Under these circumstances, and with inflation subdued and interest rates on US Treasury securities far below their historical average in both nominal and real terms, the economic case for temporary fiscal measures to boost demand is compelling. Yet the US Congress, spearheaded by Republicans in the House of Representatives, appears to be heading in the opposite direction, so far failing to agree on a deal to protect the economy from much, if not all, of the $600 billion in tax increases and spending cuts – the so-called fiscal cliff – scheduled to take effect in 2013.
在这些情况下，通胀温和，美国国债利率在名义上及实际价值上远远低于其历史平均水平，经济上极需临时财政措施来刺激需求。然而由众议院共和党人牵头的美国国会似乎却走向了相反的方向，到目前为止未能达成一个保护美国经济免受6000亿美元增税和削减开支——所谓的财政悬崖——影响的协议，而这一政策定于2013年生效。