Why is the field of economics still so elitist?
为什么经济学领域仍然如此“精英”？
By Tim Harford
There is no shortage of white men in economics. That is clear enough from a glance down the very male， very white list of winners of the discipline’s Nobel memorial prize.
经济学领域从来不缺少白人男性。单单诺贝尔经济学奖得主名单就会让你一目了然：男性、白人比比皆是。
There is more to diversity than race and gender. Consider social class.
当然，多样性不仅仅体现在种族和性别上。考虑一下社会阶层。
A recent report by the Royal Economic Society breaks new ground on this question. While there are various ways to measure social class， however the data is sliced， the same basic pattern shows up: economics students are disproportionately from more favoured socio-economic backgrounds.
英国皇家经济学会（简称“RES”）最近的一份报告在这个问题上有了新的突破。尽管划分社会阶层的方式多种多样，但无论如何拆分剖析数据，都会显示出一个相同的基本模式：在经济学专业，来自较为优越社会经济背景的学生格外地多。
About 8 per cent of UK-domiciled students went to private school， but nearly 20 per cent of economics students did. Some 44 per cent of students have a parent who went to university， but 55 per cent of economics students do.
在英国，约有8%的学生选择私立学校，而这个数字在经济学专业学生中达到了近20%。父母中至少有一方上过大学的学生总占比约为44%，在经济学专业中这一比例则为55%。
This is not just a problem for economics alone. The overall picture that emerges from the RES report is one of shameful educational inequality. If UK students from disadvantaged backgrounds don't make it to university， and particularly don't make it to the best universities， then we are all diminished as a result. The disparities in economics courses simply exemplify the broader problem in its most concentrated form.
这不仅仅是经济学专业独有的问题。总体来看，RES这份报告显示出的就是可耻的教育不平等现象。在英国，如果弱势群体出身的学生读不了大学，特别是无法进入顶尖大学的情况下，最终结果对我们所有人都不利。经济学专业中的不平等现象只是以最集中突出的方式反映出了这个广泛存在的问题。
But there is a double tragedy that it is economics， rather than some other subject， which so starkly displays educational inequalities. First， economics students tend to get well-paid jobs. Secondly， economists carry a great deal of weight in policymaking.
然而，教育不平等现象以如此赤裸裸的方式出现在经济学专业，而非其他学科，这一事实本身就带有双重悲剧内涵。首先，经济学专业的学生往往能找到高薪的工作。其次，经济学家在政策制定中也有着举足轻重的作用。
If young people from more marginalised upbringings were better represented in economics， they would also be better represented in the corridors of power. But they are not. And you don't need a degree in economics to understand the consequences of that.
如果较边缘化背景出身的年轻人能够在经济学领域具有更大的影响力，他们也就能在高层决策中扩大影响力。但事实并非如此。而且就算没有经济学学位，相信你也能理解这种现状会带来怎样的后果。
生词好句
1.elitist
英[iˈliːtɪst]美[iˈliːtɪst]
adj.精英的
拓展:
elite n.精英；最优秀、最有权势和最有影响力的社会阶层
His elitist attitude made it difficult for him to work with others.
他高人一等的姿态很难人别人合作。
2.no shortage of somebody/something
不缺某人/某事
3.glance
英[ɡlɑːns]美[ɡlæns]
n.一瞥，看一眼
拓展:
at a glance一瞥，看一眼
You could tell she was upset just at a glance.
一眼就能看出来她很不开心。
He recognized her at a glance in the crowd.
他在人群中一眼就认出了她。
4.There is more to A than B
对于A来说，不仅仅是关乎B
拓展:
There is more to success than just making money.
成功不仅仅是挣钱。
There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.
生活的意义不仅仅在于加快脚步。
5.break new ground on something
创新；开拓（to do something that is different from anything that has been done before）
拓展:
AI scientists break new ground on human-computer interaction by developing ChatGPT.
ChatGPT的横空出世，让人和计算机的交互方式有了很大的变革。
The documentary breaks new ground on environmental issues.
这个纪录片在环境问题上开创了新思路。
6.slice
英[slaɪs]美[slaɪs]
v.切分
7.disproportionately
英[ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃnətli]美[ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːrʃnətli]
adv.不成比例地，不相称地
拓展:
proportionately adv.比例地
8.make it to…
成功达到某个地点、水平或阶段（非正式短语）
拓展:
He managed to make it to the meeting on time， despite the heavy traffic.
虽然交通拥堵，他还是赶上了会议。
I didn't think I would make it to the top of the mountain， but I did!
我以为自己爬不到山顶，但最后我做到了！
9.diminish
英[dɪˈmɪnɪʃ]美[dɪˈmɪnɪʃ]
v.减少，降低；使减小、降低
拓展:
His voice gradually diminished as he walked away.
当他走远，声音逐渐变小。
Her fear of public speaking diminished over time.
她对公开演讲的恐惧随着时间的推移逐渐减轻。
diminish the ability/the risk/the importance降低能力、风险、重要性
10.disparity
英[dɪˈspærəti]美[dɪˈsperəti]
n.（人或者事物之间显著的）差异、不平等（a noticeable difference or inequality in age， income， degree， etc.， between people or things）
拓展:
income disparities between urban and rural areas城乡收入差异
financial disparity经济或者财务上的差距
11.exemplify
英[ɪɡˈzemplɪfaɪ]美[ɪɡˈzempləfaɪ]
v.体现了……，说明了……；是……的例证、例子
拓展:
This building exemplifies modern architecture.
这座大楼是现代建筑的典型代表。
She exemplifies the qualities of a good leader.
她展现了作为领导的良好品质。
exemplify the problem/the issue in a concentrated form ......集中地反映了......
12.starkly display
鲜明地展现，突出地体现
拓展:
The movie starkly displays the hardships of life.
这部电影鲜明地展示了生活的艰辛。
The report starkly displays the need for better healthcare infrastructure.
这份报告鲜明地展现了提升医疗基础设施的必要性。
13.carry a great deal of weight in something
在……中有很大分量，具有重要影响力
拓展:
My mother's opinion carries a great deal of weight in our family decisions.
我们的家庭决策里，我妈的观点分量很重。
Experience carries a great deal of weight in the job market.
在就业市场里，经验很重要。
14.marginalise
英[ˈmɑːdʒɪnlaɪz]美[ˈmɑːrdʒɪnlaɪz]
v.边缘化
拓展:
margin n.边缘；（纸张四边的）空白
Many successful entrepreneurs come from marginalised upbringings， using their struggles as motivation.
很多成功的企业家都是出身贫寒，把奋斗作为自己的推动力。
15.the corridors of power
政府企业或其他组织中有实际决策权和影响力的人所在的地方
16.You don't need… to…
不需要......就能......
拓展:
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to do something.
不需要是火箭科学家（才能做某事）。
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to fix the machine. It's not rocket science.
不需要是火箭科学家才能修机器。这又不是什么复杂的事情。