The likelihood, though, is that the economic and political problems that were so manifest in the US and Europe in 2011 – and which have so far been tremendously mismanaged – will only grow worse in 2012. Any forecast for the coming year depends, more than usual, on politics – on the outcome of the US gridlock, and on European leaders’ ability to respond to the euro crisis.
但是，最有可能的是，2011年美国和欧洲的早已是众人皆知、且迄今为止治理大为不善的经济和政治问题将在2012年继续恶化。任何对明年的预测均以不同寻常的程度取决于政治——取决于美国僵局以什么结果收场以及欧洲领导人应对欧元危机的能力。经济预测已经够困难的了，但在进行政治预测时，我们的水晶球里更是一团迷雾。