164-5-744

One fine day

Ideally, the next round of Western elections—especially the presidential one in America—will focus on that. Slimming the state is not an easy conversation. But consider the alternative: an ever fatter state, ever less freedom and ever higher taxes. In the 1990s much was made of the idea that capitalism had got so footloose that states were bound to get slimmer to compete for corporate favours. In fact companies proved more loyal than expected—and the state went on one last splurge. But talent and capital are getting more mobile and the demographic pressure of those ageing populations is mounting. The ever larger state cannot go on for ever. It will stop.

A. 어휘
Slimming 군살을 빼다, 날씬하게 하다, 줄이다.
alternative 代案(대안). footloose 자유로운, 가고 싶은 곳에 갈 수 있는.
be bound to 반드시 하다. corporate 회사. loyal 충성스러운.
splurge 흥청망청 돈 쓰기. demographic 인구의. mount 올라가다.