Day 26｜実戦演習⑤｜経済・ビジネス
【メイン課題】
以下の英文を 6分〜8分以内 に読んで設問に答えてください。
英文：
The global shift toward cashless payment systems has accelerated dramatically in recent years, driven by advances in mobile technology and changing consumer habits. Countries such as Sweden, China, and South Korea have emerged as leaders in the transition to digital payments, with cash transactions accounting for an increasingly small share of total purchases. In Sweden, cash now represents less than one percent of all transactions, and many shops and restaurants no longer accept physical currency.
The benefits of cashless payments are numerous. Digital transactions are faster and more convenient than handling coins and bills. They provide a detailed record of spending, making it easier for individuals to manage their finances and for businesses to track revenue. Cashless systems also reduce the costs associated with printing, transporting, and securing physical currency, which can be substantial. For governments, digital payments increase financial transparency and make it more difficult to evade taxes or engage in money laundering.
Mobile payment platforms have been particularly transformative in developing countries. In Kenya, a mobile money service launched in 2007 has brought financial services to millions of people who previously had no access to traditional banking. Users can send money, pay bills, and save using only their mobile phones, without needing a bank account. Similar services have expanded across Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Latin America, helping to promote financial inclusion and economic development in regions where bank branches and ATMs are scarce.
Despite these advantages, the move toward a cashless society raises significant concerns. Digital payment systems depend on reliable internet connections and electricity, which are not available everywhere. Technical failures, cyberattacks, and system outages can disrupt transactions and leave people unable to make purchases. Privacy advocates warn that digital payments generate vast amounts of personal data that can be tracked, analyzed, and potentially misused by companies or governments.
The impact on vulnerable populations is particularly troubling. Elderly people who are unfamiliar with digital technology may struggle to adapt to cashless systems. Low-income individuals who lack smartphones or bank accounts could be excluded from an increasingly digital economy. Immigrants and undocumented workers who rely on cash for daily transactions would face additional hardships. The digital divide in payment systems risks creating a two-tier society in which those without access to technology are marginalized.
Several countries have taken steps to ensure that cash remains a viable option alongside digital payments. The European Central Bank has stated that euro banknotes and coins must remain legal tender throughout the eurozone. In the United States, cities including Philadelphia, New York, and San Francisco have passed laws requiring businesses to accept cash. Japan, despite its reputation as a technology leader, has maintained a strong cash culture, with cash still accounting for a significant portion of transactions due to cultural preferences and concerns about privacy.
The future of money will likely involve a hybrid system that combines the convenience of digital payments with the accessibility and privacy of cash. Rather than forcing a complete transition to cashless payments, societies should ensure that all citizens have access to the financial system regardless of their technological literacy or economic status. The challenge lies in harnessing the benefits of digital payment technology while protecting the rights and needs of those who depend on traditional forms of currency.
設問：
（1）キャッシュレス決済のメリットを3つ挙げなさい。
（2）途上国におけるモバイル決済の意義を説明しなさい。
（3）キャッシュレス社会への移行が弱者に与える影響を3つ挙げなさい。
（4）本文の内容と一致するものを全て選びなさい。
a. スウェーデンでは現金取引が全体の1%未満を占めている
b. ケニアのモバイルマネーサービスは2007年に開始された
c. 日本は完全にキャッシュレス化が進んでいる
d. フィラデルフィアでは店舗に現金受け入れを義務づける法律が成立した
e. 筆者はキャッシュレスへの完全移行を推奨している
（5）この文章全体を80字以内で要約しなさい。
模範解答を見る ▼
【模範解答】
各段落のキーワードメモ：
– 第1段落：キャッシュレス化の加速
– 第2段落：メリット
– 第3段落：途上国のモバイル決済
– 第4段落：懸念事項
– 第5段落：弱者への影響
– 第6段落：各国の現金維持策
– 第7段落：結論（ハイブリッドシステム）
設問の解答：
（1）①デジタル取引は現金より速く便利 ②支出の詳細な記録が残り家計管理やビジネス管理に役立つ ③紙幣・硬貨の印刷・輸送・保管コストを削減できる
（2）伝統的な銀行サービスにアクセスできなかった何百万もの人々に、携帯電話だけで送金・支払い・貯蓄が可能な金融サービスを提供し、銀行支店やATMが少ない地域での金融包摂と経済発展を促進している。
（3）①デジタル技術に不慣れな高齢者がキャッシュレスシステムに適応しにくい ②スマートフォンや銀行口座を持たない低所得者がデジタル経済から排除される ③日常取引で現金に依存する移民や不法就労者がさらなる困難に直面する
（4）正解：a、b、d
– a：本文 “less than one percent of all transactions” → 正解
– b：本文 “launched in 2007” → 正解
– c：本文 “Japan … has maintained a strong cash culture” → 完全にはキャッシュレス化していない → 不正解
– d：本文 “Philadelphia, New York, and San Francisco have passed laws requiring businesses to accept cash” → 正解
– e：第7段落で “Rather than forcing a complete transition” と述べており、完全移行を推奨していない → 不正解
（5）要約例：キャッシュレス決済は利便性や金融包摂の面でメリットが大きい一方、デジタル格差やプライバシーの課題もあるため、デジタルと現金を併存させるハイブリッドシステムが最善である。（80字）
ポイント（速読のコツ㉖）：
– 7段落の長文では 段落をグループ化 して読もう。この文章なら「第1〜3段落＝メリット」「第4〜5段落＝デメリット」「第6〜7段落＝対策と結論」の3ブロック。ブロック単位で把握すると、7段落が3つの塊に見えて読みやすくなる。
【練習問題】以下の英文を6分〜8分以内に読み、設問に答えなさい。
英文：
The four-day workweek has emerged as one of the most discussed labor policy innovations in recent years. Under this model, employees work four days per week instead of five while maintaining the same salary. Advocates argue that reducing working hours can improve employee well-being, increase productivity, and help address environmental challenges by reducing commuting and office energy consumption.
Several large-scale trials have produced encouraging results. In 2022, the United Kingdom conducted a six-month pilot program involving 61 companies and approximately 2,900 workers. At the end of the trial, 92 percent of participating companies decided to continue with the four-day workweek. Employees reported reduced stress and burnout, improved work-life balance, and better mental health. Remarkably, company revenues remained stable or increased during the trial period, contradicting concerns that reduced hours would harm business performance.
Iceland conducted two large-scale trials between 2015 and 2019, involving over 2,500 workers in both public and private sectors. Researchers found that productivity remained the same or improved in the majority of participating workplaces. Following these trials, unions in Iceland negotiated reduced working hours for the majority of the country’s workforce.
Critics of the four-day workweek argue that it may not be suitable for all industries. Healthcare, emergency services, retail, and manufacturing sectors often require continuous staffing that makes it difficult to reduce working days without hiring additional employees. Small businesses may also struggle to maintain service levels with fewer working days. Some economists worry that widespread adoption of shorter work weeks could reduce overall economic output in the long term.
Despite these concerns, the movement toward shorter working hours appears to be gaining momentum. Belgium became the first European country to give employees the legal right to work four days per week in 2022. Several other countries, including Spain and Portugal, have launched government-funded pilot programs. As more data becomes available from these experiments, the debate about the future of work is likely to intensify.
設問：
（1）イギリスのパイロットプログラムの結果を3つ挙げなさい。
（2）週4日勤務制に対する批判を2つ挙げなさい。
（3）この文章全体を80字以内で要約しなさい。
練習問題の解答を見る ▼
【練習問題 解答】
設問の解答：
（1）①参加企業の92%が週4日制を継続することを決定 ②従業員のストレス・バーンアウトの軽減とメンタルヘルスの改善 ③企業の収益はトライアル期間中に安定または増加
（2）①医療・救急・小売・製造業など常時人員配置が必要な業界では、追加雇用なしに勤務日削減が難しい ②広範な導入は長期的に経済全体の生産高を減少させる可能性がある
（3）要約例：週4日勤務制は英国やアイスランドの大規模試験で生産性維持と従業員の健康改善が確認されたが、全業種への適用可能性には課題があり、今後の実験データの蓄積が求められる。（80字）