後經濟衰退時期 全球屌絲生存現狀(2)

JAPAN: Quitting the race before it begins

日本：放棄競爭的“滿足”

Japanese culture is known for its emphasis on hard work and educational competition. Beginning in primary school, Japanese students engage in rigorous studies and testing.

日本文化向來以強調努力工作與教育競爭著稱，從小學開始，日本的學生就在嚴酷的學業和考試中度過。

Students are pushed to their limits in hopes that, once they complete their education, their efforts will pay off in the form of a stable career with a good company. But many Japanese are discovering competitive educational credentials no longer guarantee success.

學生們雖然筋疲力盡，但他們依然相信只要能從教育競爭中脫穎而出，所有的努力都會有所回報：進好的公司，擁有安穩的工作。但是現在，越來越多的日本人發現競爭式的教育已不再是獲得成功的保證。

“There is a feeling among young generations that no matter how hard we try, we can’t get ahead,” Shigeyuki Jo, 36, told The New York Times. “Every avenue seems to be blocked, like we’re butting our heads against a wall.”

今年36歲的Shigeyuki Jo在接受《紐約時報》採訪時說，“現在的年輕人都有一種感覺，就是無論我們怎麼努力，都無法取得成功。所有的道路似乎都被堵死了，撞個頭破血流也沒有用。”

Yet according to a survey conducted by the Japanese government, levels of youth satisfaction reached 78.4 percent in 2014, the highest they’ve been since 1967.

但是，日本政府的統計卻顯示，2014年年輕人的滿意度高達78.4%，是1967年以來的最高峯。

University of Tokyo researcher Noritoshi Furuichi believes this increase in happiness is because young Japanese are giving up on competitiveness and focusing on living in the moment.

東京大學的研究員Noritoshi Furuichi認爲，幸福感的增加是因爲日本的年輕人已經放棄競爭，只顧享受當下。

“‘Enjoy today, tomorrow is coming’ encapsulates the mentality that increasingly absorbs Japan’s youth,” Furuichi wrote in a blog post for the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.

Furuichi在爲東亞經濟研究所撰寫的一篇博文中就寫道：“‘享受今天，明天總會到來。”這成爲越來越多日本年輕人的心態。”

“This ‘consummatory’ mindset is where, rather than striving towards long-term goals, the focus is on having fun in the ‘here and now’.”

“這種‘自我滿足’的心態就是不再爲實現長遠目標而努力，只關心享受當下。”

US: Stressed but optimistic

美國：重壓之下仍保持樂觀心態

Many outside the US continue to see the country as one of opportunity, and despite being in a tough economic position, research shows many young Americans would agree.

很多身處美國之外的人們依舊認爲美國充滿機會，而研究顯示，即使在當前嚴峻的經濟環境下，很多美國的年輕人也贊同這種觀點。

Eric Andersen, 25, graduated from the University of Iowa in 2010. Jobless and saddled with $15,000 (91,805 yuan) in student loan debt, he moved back in with his parents while he continued searching for employment.

今年25歲的艾瑞克•安德森2010年畢業於愛荷華大學。他不僅沒有工作而且身負15000美元（約合人民幣91805元）的助學貸款，但是回到家鄉和父母同住的他並沒有放棄繼續找工作。

“I applied for jobs like it was my job,” Andersen told The Gazette. As has been the case for many other American millennials, Andersen’s determination paid off. He eventually landed a job as an editor.

在接受美國網站The Gazette的採訪時，安德森說：“找工作本身就像是我的工作。”像很多美國千禧一代的年輕人一樣，功夫不負有心人，他最終找到了一份編輯的工作。

Like their Japanese counterparts, young Americans have reorganized their values in order to remain positive through harsh economic times.

和日本人一樣，美國的年輕人也是通過重新定位自己的價值，在這個經濟不景氣的時代裏保持了一份積極的心態。

While making money still remains important to millennials, few expect to make as much as their parents did.

雖然，掙錢對於千禧一代依舊十分重要，但他們不再期待掙得像父母那麼多。

These lowered expectations have made it easier for young Americans to appreciate what they do have.

因爲期望值的降低，美國的年輕人似乎很容易知足。

According to the Pew Research Center, among those ages 18 to 34, 88 percent say they either have or earn enough money now or expect they will in the future.

皮尤研究中心的調查顯示，美國18至34歲間的年輕人中，有88%的人認爲自己手中的錢和掙得的錢，不論是現在，還是在以後都夠花了。

“While young people are less likely now than they were before the recession to say they currently have enough income, their level of optimism is undiminished from where it was in 2004,” reported Pew.

皮尤的報告同時稱，“雖然現在的年輕人的收入並不及經濟衰退之前，但是，自2004年以來，其樂觀的心態卻絲毫沒有受到影響。”