新聞英文｜2026 諾貝爾經濟學獎揭曉：一次學會 inflation、interest rate、boom and bust

物價又漲了、房貸利率會不會再升、出國換匯到底划不划算⋯⋯這些日常煩惱，其實都和「總體經濟」有關。2026 年 10 月 12 日，2026 年諾貝爾經濟學獎揭曉，由美國史丹佛大學的 Robert E. Hall 與哥倫比亞大學的 Michael Woodford 共同獲得。兩人的研究深入解釋家庭與企業如何面對經濟變化做出決策，並影響現代央行穩定景氣、處理通膨與經濟衝擊的方式。

這篇新聞英文文章，我們用一段約 200 字的原創英文短文，帶你用英文讀懂這則諾貝爾經濟學獎新聞，並整理 inflation 意思、interest rate、boom and bust 等財經新聞高頻單字。這些字不只常出現在 BBC、CNN 等外電，也常見於多益 Part 7 的商業文章和職場簡報。

就算你對經濟學沒興趣也沒關係：學會這幾個字，下次看到「央行升息」「通膨降溫」的英文標題，就能一眼看懂重點。

On Monday, October 12, two American economists won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. Robert E. Hall of Stanford University and Michael Woodford of Columbia University will share the prize money of 12 million Swedish kronor, or about 1.2 million US dollars. It was the last Nobel Prize announced this year.

Their work helps explain why economies go through booms and busts, or periods of fast growth followed by slowdowns. Hall's research showed that people do not decide how much to spend based only on their current income. They also consider how much they expect to earn in the future. Woodford studied how companies set prices. Because changing prices often costs time and money, many businesses look ahead and choose prices that will work for a longer period.

Together, their ideas changed how central banks deal with inflation and unemployment. Their research also highlighted the importance of expectations and clear communication in monetary policy. Today, many central banks around the world use models built on this research when they set interest rates.

Woodford said the award came as a surprise. "It's a tremendous honor," he said at a press conference, according to Axios.

10 月 12 日星期一，兩位美國經濟學家獲得 2026 年諾貝爾經濟學獎。史丹佛大學的 Robert E. Hall 與哥倫比亞大學的 Michael Woodford 將共同分享 1,200 萬瑞典克朗（約 120 萬美元）的獎金。這是今年最後一個公布的諾貝爾獎項。

他們的研究有助於解釋，為什麼經濟會經歷「繁榮與蕭條」，也就是快速成長之後接著放緩的時期。Hall 的研究指出，人們決定要花多少錢，並不只根據目前的收入，也會考慮未來預期能賺多少。Woodford 則研究企業如何訂價。由於調整價格往往要花時間和成本，許多企業會往前看，選擇能維持較長時間的價格。

兩人的觀點合起來，改變了中央銀行處理通貨膨脹與失業問題的方式。他們的研究也凸顯了「預期」與清楚的政策溝通在貨幣政策中的重要性。如今，世界各地許多央行在設定利率時，都會使用以這項研究為基礎的模型。

Woodford 表示，得獎讓他很意外。據 Axios 報導，他在記者會上表示：「這是莫大的榮幸。」

1. economist（n.）經濟學家
   • 新聞用法：two American economists won the 2026 Nobel Prize
   • 例句：The economist on TV said housing prices in Taipei may stay high next year.
   • 中譯：電視上的經濟學家說，台北房價明年可能仍會維持高檔。
2. share（v.）共同分享、分攤
   • 新聞用法：will share the prize money
   • 例句：My roommates and I share the rent and the electricity bill every month.
   • 中譯：我和室友每個月一起分攤房租和電費。
3. boom and bust（phr.）景氣繁榮與蕭條的循環、大起大落
   • 新聞用法：economies go through booms and busts
   • 例句：The bubble tea industry has seen a lot of booms and busts over the years.
   • 中譯：這些年來，手搖飲產業經歷了許多次大起大落。
4. slowdown（n.）放緩、減速
   • 新聞用法：periods of fast growth followed by slowdowns
   • 例句：Our company stopped hiring because of the economic slowdown.
   • 中譯：因為經濟放緩，我們公司暫停招募新人。
5. expect（v.）預期、預計
   • 新聞用法：how much they expect to earn in the future
   • 例句：I expect to save enough money for my working holiday by next summer.
   • 中譯：我預計在明年夏天前存夠打工度假的錢。
6. set prices（phr.）訂定價格
   • 新聞用法：Woodford studied how companies set prices.
   • 例句：Night market vendors often set prices based on the cost of ingredients.
   • 中譯：夜市攤販通常根據食材成本來訂價。
7. look ahead（phr. v.）往前看、為未來做打算
   • 新聞用法：many businesses look ahead and choose prices…
   • 例句：If you look ahead and book early, flights to Cebu are much cheaper.
   • 中譯：如果你提早規劃、早點訂票，飛宿霧的機票會便宜很多。
8. central bank（n.）中央銀行
   • 新聞用法：how central banks deal with inflation and unemployment
   • 例句：Taiwan's central bank decides whether to raise interest rates.
   • 中譯：台灣的中央銀行決定是否升息。
9. inflation（n.）通貨膨脹、物價上漲
   • 新聞用法：deal with inflation and unemployment
   • 例句：Because of inflation, a lunch box now costs almost NT$120.
   • 中譯：因為通膨，現在一個便當要價將近 120 元台幣。
10. unemployment（n.）失業、失業率
    • 新聞用法：deal with inflation and unemployment
    • 例句：Youth unemployment is a big topic in many countries.
    • 中譯：青年失業是許多國家的熱門議題。
11. interest rate（n.）利率
    • 新聞用法：when they set interest rates
    • 例句：Higher interest rates mean my monthly mortgage payment will go up.
    • 中譯：利率上升代表我每個月的房貸要繳更多。

句型 1：not … based only on A. S also …（不只根據 A，也會…）

• 原文：Hall's research showed that people do not decide how much to spend based only on their current income. They also consider how much they expect to earn in the future.
• 結構：否定句 + based only on + 名詞，下一句用 also 補上另一個考量。這是很自然的「不只…還…」寫法，比 not only… but also… 更口語。
• 套用：I don't choose a language school based only on price. I also think about class size and location.（我選語言學校不只看價格，也會考慮班級人數和地點。）

句型 2：Because / Since + 原因子句, 主要子句（因為…，所以…）

• 原文：Because changing prices often costs time and money, many businesses look ahead…
• 結構：Because 和 Since 都能把原因放句首，後面加逗號再接結果。注意英文不能同時用 because 和 so。Since 語氣略輕，常用在「大家都知道的原因」。
• 套用：Since the yen is weak right now, many Taiwanese people are traveling to Japan.（因為日圓現在很弱，很多台灣人去日本旅遊。）
• 小提醒：動名詞片語當主詞（changing prices）時，動詞用單數 costs。

句型 3：S + highlight(s) / highlighted + the importance of + N / V-ing（凸顯…的重要性）

• 原文：Their research also highlighted the importance of expectations and clear communication in monetary policy.
• 結構：highlight 表示「凸顯、強調」；the importance of 後面接名詞或動名詞。此句描述研究的重要意涵，不是引用研究者個人的政策建議。
• 套用：The meeting highlighted the importance of confirming deadlines with clients.（這場會議凸顯了與客戶確認截止日期的重要性。）

情境：同事 Amy 和 Kevin 午休時聊到出國旅遊的預算。

• Amy: Did you see the news? Two economists just won the Nobel Prize.
• Kevin: Yes! Their research is about inflation and interest rates, right?
• Amy: Right. Speaking of inflation, everything is getting so expensive. I'm worried about my trip to Australia next year.
• Kevin: Then you should look ahead and exchange some money when the rate is good.
• Amy: Good idea. I also expect hotel prices to go up during the holidays.
• Kevin: Hotels set prices based on demand, so booking early really helps.
• Amy: Maybe I'll share a room with a friend to save money, too.
• Kevin: Smart. That way, you won't feel the slowdown in your wallet!

讀完新聞短文和單字後，試著回答下面 4 題；選好答案按下確認，就會看到解析。

新聞裡的單字看懂了，真正遇到外國同事、面試或英文會議時，卻不一定說得出口。Ambitious Learner 一對一線上英文可依你的程度，把新聞英文、職場英文與口說練習放進實際課程。

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• Prize in Economic Sciences 2026 — Press release：Nobel 官方新聞稿，2026 年 10 月 12 日。
• The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel：Nobel 官方獎項介紹。
• Two Americans win Nobel Prize in economics for work on boom-bust cycles：NPR（Scott Horsley）／OPB 轉載，2026/10/12
• U.S. economists win Nobel for work on managing economic shocks：Axios（Courtenay Brown），2026/10/12
• Nobel economics prize awarded to Robert Hall and Michael Woodford：Al Jazeera，2026/10/12