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 TED 財富讓人變得更壞? (7) (英文演講稿) 

演講者：社會心理學家 -  Paul Piff

In fact, the top 20 percent of our population own close to 90 percent of the total wealth in this country. We're at unprecedented levels of economic inequality. What that means is that wealth is not only becoming increasingly concentrated in the hands of a select group of individuals, but the American dream is becoming increasingly unattainable for an increasing majority of us. And if it's the case, as we've been finding, that the wealthier you are, the more entitled you feel to that wealth, and the more likely you are to prioritize your own interests above the interests of other people, and be willing to do things to serve that self-interest, well then there's no reason to think that those patterns will change. In fact, there's every reason to think that they'll only get worse, and that's what it would look like if things just stayed the same, at the same linear rate, over the next 20 years.

Now, inequality, economic inequality, is something we should all be concerned about, and not just because of those at the bottom of the social hierarchy, but because individuals and groups with lots of economic inequality do worse, not just the people at the bottom, everyone. There's a lot of really compelling research coming out from top labs all over the world showcasing the range of things that are undermined as economic inequality gets worse. Social mobility, things we really care about, physical health, social trust, all go down as inequality goes up. Similarly, negative things in social collectives and societies, things like obesity, and violence, imprisonment, and punishment, are exacerbated as economic inequality increases. Again, these are outcomes not just experienced by a few, but that resound across all strata of society. Even people at the top experience these outcomes.

單字：

1)    concentrate  (N. /V. /Adj.) 專心於； 注意； 集中； 聚集；濃縮，（使）濃縮； [採礦]汰選； 選礦，精選，富集；濃縮物；集中起來的，經過濃縮的
例句 1:  Most development has been concentrated in and around cities.
例句 2:  A term in prison will concentrate his mind wonderfully

2)    in the hands of  在…掌握中； 交托給； 由…處理[負責]； 被…控制
例句 1:  The British media is in the hands of clubby men. 
例句 2:  High-powered cars are lethal weapons in the hands of inexperienced drivers. 

3)    unattainable (Adj.) 達不到的，無法取得的； 可望而不可即
例句 1:  There are those who argue that true independent advice is unattainable. 
例句 2:  T But their desire to develop themselves remained unattainable.

4)    entitle (V.) 使有資格； 給…定名； 給與…權利； 稱做
例句 1:  If the warranty is limited, the terms may entitle you to a replacement or refund. 
例句 2:  Membership fees often entitle people to reduced hire rates for tennis courts. 

5)    prioritize (V.) 按重要性排列，劃分優先順序； 優先處理
例句 1:  The government is prioritising the service sector, rather than investing in industry and production.
例句 2:  Make lists of what to do and prioritize your tasks.

6)    hierarchy (N.) 計]分層，層次； 等級制度； 統治集團； 天使的級別或等級
例句 1:  For me, the core issue is road hierarchy.
例句 2:  The principle of hierarchy does not equate to totalitarian terror. 

7)    undermined (V./Adj. ) 潛行的；在某物下挖洞或挖通道( undermine的過去式和過去分詞 )； 侵蝕…的基礎； 暗中破壞； 逐漸削弱
例句 1:  Western intelligence agencies are accused of trying to undermine the government. 
例句 2:  The conversations were designed to undermine her authority so she felt that she could no longer work for the company.

8)    imprisonment (N. ) 關押，監禁
例句 1:  She was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment. 
例句 2:  The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. 

9)    punishment  (N.) 刑罰，懲罰； 嚴厲對待； <口>給吃苦頭
例句 1:  I have no doubt that the man is guilty and that he deserves punishment. 
例句 2:  The usual punishment is a fine.

10)    exacerbate  (V.) 使惡化； 使加重； 激怒
例句 1:  Longstanding poverty has been exacerbated by racial divisions.
例句 2:  Do policies in industrial countries ease or exacerbate the difficulties faced by developing countries?