1996年阅读3(2/3) - 英语听力

The growth of the limited liability company and municipal business had important consequences. Such large, impersonal manipulation of capital and industry greatly increased the numbers and importance of shareholders as a class, an element in national life representing irresponsible wealth detached from the land and the duties of the landowners; and almost equally detached from the responsible management of business. All through the 19th century, America, Africa, India, Australia and parts of Europe were being developed by British capital, and British shareholders were thus enriched by the world's movement towards industrialization. Towns like Bournemouth and Eastbourne sprang up to house large 'comfortable' classes who had retired on their incomes, and who had no relation to the rest of the community except that of drawing dividends and occasionally attending a shareholders' meeting to dictate their orders to the management. On the other hand 'shareholding' meant leisure and freedom which was used by many of the later Victorians for the highest purpose of a great civilization.
有限责任公司和市营企业的发展意义重大。资金和企业的这种大规模、非个人的运作极大地促进了作为一个阶层的股东人数的增加，增强了他们的重要性；股东阶层是国民中的一部分，代表了不需承担责任的财富从地产和土地所有者的责任中的分离，几乎也同样代表了从企业负责任的管理中的分离。整个十九世纪，美洲、非洲、印度、澳大利亚和欧洲的部分地区都靠英国的资金发展，而英国的股东则因世界性的工业化而大发其财。像Bournmouth和Eastbourne这样的城镇迅速发展起来，为大批“享乐”阶层提供了住所，而这些人靠自己的丰厚收入过着隐居生活，这些人除了分取红利、偶尔参加股东大会向管理人员发号施令外，他们与外界没有任何联系。另一方面，“股权”意味着悠闲和自由，而这正是维多利亚时代后期许多人视之为伟大文明的最高目标。
编辑于2023/12/06更新