什么叫乘数：中英双语解读

中文版：

乘数，在经济学中，是一个用来描述经济变量之间关系的术语。简单来说，乘数是一个经济变量变动时，其他相关经济变量也会发生变动的倍数。乘数效应是指一个经济变量的变化通过某种机制影响到其他经济变量，从而产生一系列连锁反应，最终导致总体经济活动的更大变化。

乘数效应在经济学中有许多应用，其中最为人们熟知的是投资乘数和财政乘数。投资乘数描述的是投资变动对总产出和总收入的影响程度。当投资增加时，通过生产链的传导作用，会带动就业、消费等经济活动的增加，最终导致总产出的更大增长。财政乘数则是描述政府支出或税收变动对经济活动的影响。政府支出的增加会刺激总需求，而税收的减少也会增加家庭的可支配收入，进而促进消费和经济增长。

需要注意的是，乘数效应的大小并非固定不变，它受到多种因素的影响，如经济体系的开放程度、市场结构、消费者和投资者的信心等。因此，在分析和预测经济现象时，我们需要综合考虑各种因素，以更准确地评估乘数效应的大小和方向。

英文版：

What is a Multiplier: A Comparative Reading in Chinese and English

In economics, a multiplier is a term used to describe the relationship between economic variables. In simple terms, a multiplier represents the change in other related economic variables resulting from a change in one economic variable. The multiplier effect refers to the impact of a change in one economic variable on other economic variables through a certain mechanism, leading to a series of连锁 reactions and ultimately resulting in a larger change in overall economic activity.

The multiplier effect has numerous applications in economics, with the most well-known being the investment multiplier and the fiscal multiplier. The investment multiplier describes the impact of changes in investment on total output and income. When investment increases, it drives economic activities such as employment and consumption through the transmission mechanism of the production chain, ultimately leading to greater growth in total output. The fiscal multiplier, on the other hand, describes the impact of changes in government spending or taxation on economic activity. Increased government spending stimulates aggregate demand, while reduced taxation increases household disposable income, thereby promoting consumption and economic growth.

It is important to note that the size of the multiplier effect is not fixed and is influenced by various factors such as the openness of the economic system, market structure, and consumer and investor confidence. Therefore, when analyzing and predicting economic phenomena, it is necessary to consider various factors comprehensively to more accurately assess the size and direction of the multiplier effect.