2014年经济学人双语阅读

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1、Post-officebankingPutyourmoneywhereyourmailisAmerica'spostalservicepondersaforayintofinancialservicesWITHaworkforceofjustover491,000in2013,theUnitedStatesPostalServiceissecondonlytoWalmartamongcivilianemployersinAmerica.Butitstillemployedmorethan200,000fewerpeoplelastyearthanitdidjustnine

2、yearsearlier—whenithandlednearly500mmorepiecesofmailandhadalmost2,000moreretailoffices.Theriseofe-mailhasleftAmerica'smassivepostalservicewithfarlesstodo,andithasbeenscramblingtofindwaystoraiserevenue.Earlierthisyearitsinspector-generalreleasedawhitepapersuggestingthatpostofficesshouldbeg

3、inofferingfinancialservices,suchascheque-cashing,smallloans,billpayments,internationalmoneytransfersandprepaidcardstowhichsalariesorbenefitscouldbetransferred.Thereasoningissimple:alotofAmericanshavescantaccesstobanksandalotofpostofficeshavetoolittletodo.Morethanone-quarterofAmericanhouse

4、holdsareunbankedorunderbanked,meaningtheyeitherlackacurrentorsavingsaccount,ortheyhaveonebutstillusealternativestobankssuchascheque-cashersandpaydaylenders.Thatisanexpensivehabit:theaverageunderbankedhouseholdhasanannualincomeofonly$25,500orso,yetspendsaround9.5%ofthatonfeesandinterestcha

5、rgedbythesebankingsubstitutes.High-streetbanksfindithardtomakemoneyservingpoorcustomers,sincetheytendtohavelittlemoneyondepositthatthebankscanlendout.Penaltiessuchasoverdraftfeesarenotalwaysenoughtocompensate.Since2008,93%ofbank-branchclosingshavecomeinareaswheremedianhouseholdincomeisbel

6、owthenationalaverage.ThesearethedistressedcustomerstowhoserescuetheUSPShopestoride.Some59%ofitspostofficesareinplaceswitheitherasinglebankornoneatall.Inruralhamletstheyareoftenoneofveryfewcommercialestablishments;eveninthepostalservice'sdiminishedstate,therearestillmorethansevenpostoffice

7、sforeveryWalmartinAmerica.PostofficesalreadysellmoneyordersandprovideelectronicremittancestonineLatinAmericancountries;from1911to1967theUSPSalsoheldpersonaldeposits.Providingsmall,briefloansatlowerinterestratesthanpaydaylenderscouldsavelow-incomeconsumershundredsofm