歐洲經濟形勢看“巨無霸”漢堡價格就知道

歐洲經濟智庫布魯格爾的一位經濟學家研究發現，歐元區各國的經濟狀況其實不用通過複雜的數據來判斷，只要看看各國麥當勞“巨無霸”漢堡的價格就知道了。這位經濟學家在2011年7月到2013年1月間對歐元區各國麥當勞“巨無霸”漢堡的價格研究發現，希臘、葡萄牙和西班牙的漢堡價格上漲幅度低於整個歐元區平均水平，而愛爾蘭的漢堡價格則有所下降。與此相對的是，德國的漢堡價格上漲水平超過了歐元區平均水平。這位經濟學家指出，由此可以看出各國採取的經濟改革措施正在發揮作用。比如，愛爾蘭接收國際援助後實行支出縮減政策，他們國家的漢堡價格從3.8歐元降至不到3.5歐元。而在負債相當繁重的意大利，漢堡價格卻是歐元區最貴的，爲3.85歐元，這說明他們的通貨膨脹水平已經相當高，需要採取適當的措施了。

Forget about statistics for employment and industrial production, it is being claimed that the price of a hamburger is showing where Europe's economic reforms are working - and where they are not.

By studying the different prices for McDonald's Big Mac burger throughout the euro zone between July 2011 and January 2013, Guntram Wolff, an economist at think-tank Bruegel, found evidence that struggling countries like Ireland had tightened their belts and others had not.

The price of a Big Mac has been used by The Economist for decades as a partially tongue-in-cheek way of judging global currency valuations - the gist being that it costs the same to make but is charged at different prices around the world.

Wolff took the data and found that the price rise in Greece, Portugal and Spain has been less than the euro zone average, while in Ireland the price actually fell. These are the main countries undergoing deep economic reform due to the debt crisis.

This contrasts with price rises above the euro zone burger average in Germany.

Wolff concludes from this that economic adjustment is working. For example, In Ireland, which has made spending cuts after receiving international aid, the burger price has fallen from 3.80 euros to less than 3.50 euros.

There is one notable exception, however. Heavily-indebted Italy is the most expensive country in the euro area to buy a Big Mac - 3.85 euros - while it costs just 3.64 euros in Germany.

"Italy," said Wolff, "needs to apply the right policies to address high inflation."