Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Spanish term or phrase:
eficiencia básica
English translation:
basic efficiency (rate)
Added to glossary by
Joshua Parker
Jun 30, 2020 17:47
3 yrs ago
29 viewers *
Spanish term
eficiencia básica
Spanish to English
Bus/Financial
Finance (general)
Tax reform report
In a paragraph describing Mexico's balance of trade for tobacco:
En todo el periodo se observa una tendencia decreciente de las exportaciones de los cigarrillos, en tanto que la importación de cigarrillos presentó su nivel más bajo en el año 2015 (3.19 toneladas), seguida de una tendencia al alza para llegar a niveles similares al 2010. Se observa, además, que la **eficiencia básica** del volumen del comercio en toneladas sobre su valor monetario es muy similar y cercano a la unidad (0.9647 en exportaciones y 0.9641 para importaciones). Ello da cuenta de que el tabaco importado no es mucho más caro que el producido de forma doméstica [should be "nacional"...].
I don't understand the concept being described in that particular sentence so am at a loss as to how to translate it. Is anyone here able to explain?
I assume "cercano a la unidad" can be translated as "close to one"...
En todo el periodo se observa una tendencia decreciente de las exportaciones de los cigarrillos, en tanto que la importación de cigarrillos presentó su nivel más bajo en el año 2015 (3.19 toneladas), seguida de una tendencia al alza para llegar a niveles similares al 2010. Se observa, además, que la **eficiencia básica** del volumen del comercio en toneladas sobre su valor monetario es muy similar y cercano a la unidad (0.9647 en exportaciones y 0.9641 para importaciones). Ello da cuenta de que el tabaco importado no es mucho más caro que el producido de forma doméstica [should be "nacional"...].
I don't understand the concept being described in that particular sentence so am at a loss as to how to translate it. Is anyone here able to explain?
I assume "cercano a la unidad" can be translated as "close to one"...
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | efficiency ratio // basic efficiency |
Michael Grabczan-Grabowski
|
| 4 | basic efficiency |
Eduardo Huerta Vazquez
|
| 4 | basic efficiency rate |
Matthew Hoffman
|
Change log
Jul 11, 2020 23:23: Joshua Parker changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/2189464">Joshua Parker's</a> old entry - "eficiencia básica"" to ""basic efficiency rate/ratio)""
Proposed translations
+1
39 mins
Michael Grabczan-Grabowski
Canada
Canada
Native in English
Specializes in field
Canada
Affordable. High Quality. Native English
Native in: English (Variants: British, UK, South African, US, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand)
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, Polish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
Selected
efficiency ratio // basic efficiency
I believe it refers to the efficiency with regard to the cost of importing and exporting cigarettes relative to their monetary value. The closer to 1, the more efficient it is. This is expressed by the efficiency ratio, on which you can find more information here: https://bit.ly/2YMNPfJ and https://bit.ly/2ZpGJNi
I have also found the following Spanish sources:
https://bit.ly/2ZsbAZH (for eficiencia básica) and https://bit.ly/3dOjHVg (Wikipedia article on eficiencia económica)
I would translate your sentence like this:
It is also noted that the efficiency ratio of trade volume, calculated in tons, is very similar to and nearly 1:1 with its monetary value (0.9647 for exports and 0.9641 for imports).
OR
It is also noted that the basic efficiency of trade volume, calculated in tons, is very similar to and nearly at a 1:1 ratio with its monetary value (0.9647 for exports and 0.9641 for imports).
As for basic efficiency, it seems to be a rather technical term in the field, but online sources all seem to relate to economic efficiency. The link https://bit.ly/2BsuRSu refers to Basic Efficiency Resources, and they seem to relate to basic frameworks for measuring efficiency.
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Note added at 56 mins (2020-06-30 18:43:13 GMT)
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Actually, I realize the closer to 1, the LESS efficient it is.
If it costs $100 to import $100 worth of cigarettes, then it's a 1:1 ratio, whereas if it costs $10 to import $100 worth of cigarettes, then it's at a 0.1:1 ratio, which would be more efficient. I'm far from a math person, so I could be mistaken. :-)
I have also found the following Spanish sources:
https://bit.ly/2ZsbAZH (for eficiencia básica) and https://bit.ly/3dOjHVg (Wikipedia article on eficiencia económica)
I would translate your sentence like this:
It is also noted that the efficiency ratio of trade volume, calculated in tons, is very similar to and nearly 1:1 with its monetary value (0.9647 for exports and 0.9641 for imports).
OR
It is also noted that the basic efficiency of trade volume, calculated in tons, is very similar to and nearly at a 1:1 ratio with its monetary value (0.9647 for exports and 0.9641 for imports).
As for basic efficiency, it seems to be a rather technical term in the field, but online sources all seem to relate to economic efficiency. The link https://bit.ly/2BsuRSu refers to Basic Efficiency Resources, and they seem to relate to basic frameworks for measuring efficiency.
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Note added at 56 mins (2020-06-30 18:43:13 GMT)
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Actually, I realize the closer to 1, the LESS efficient it is.
If it costs $100 to import $100 worth of cigarettes, then it's a 1:1 ratio, whereas if it costs $10 to import $100 worth of cigarettes, then it's at a 0.1:1 ratio, which would be more efficient. I'm far from a math person, so I could be mistaken. :-)
Note from asker:
| Thanks for that (and the refs are very helpful). I think you're on the right track; the closer to one, the less efficient it is (as the figure given is slightly lower for imports). Still, I'll confirm with the client when I finish the first draft. |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I think Michael earned the points here.
I checked with the client and he confirmed it was a ratio (and "basic efficiency" is fine in EN). "
9 mins
Eduardo Huerta Vazquez
Mexico
Mexico
Native in Spanish
Mexico
Professional Translator English-Spanish
Native in: Spanish (Variants: Latin American, Mexican) 
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English
basic efficiency
And "cercano a la unidad" is almost 1, you're right
11 days
Matthew Hoffman
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Economics / business specialist, M.A.
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, Latin to English, and 1 more.
basic efficiency rate
It seems clear that "basic efficiency" is not a technical expression with a precise meaning, but simply an adjective being applied here to the word "efficiency" expressed as a ratio of a certain kind. The natural way to express that in English is "efficiency rate" or "rate of efficiency," rather than "ratio of efficiency" (which would be my second choice).
See, for example, the following sentence, "The basic efficiency rate, calculated as the ratio between the current revenues (except for
revenues from provisions and retrievals of depreciated receivables) and current costs (except for costs for provisions and losses from non-retrievable receivables) amounts to 143% as of 31.12.2017, compared to 144% in 2016."
https://www.librabank.ro/documente/Raport-Anual-2017-Libra-I...
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Note added at 11 days (2020-07-11 23:37:04 GMT) Post-grading
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Glad I could help!
See, for example, the following sentence, "The basic efficiency rate, calculated as the ratio between the current revenues (except for
revenues from provisions and retrievals of depreciated receivables) and current costs (except for costs for provisions and losses from non-retrievable receivables) amounts to 143% as of 31.12.2017, compared to 144% in 2016."
https://www.librabank.ro/documente/Raport-Anual-2017-Libra-I...
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Note added at 11 days (2020-07-11 23:37:04 GMT) Post-grading
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Glad I could help!
Note from asker:
| I had already delivered this - but I checked with the client and you're right. It is a ratio and "rate" sounds better to me, too (but I used ratio!). |
Discussion
The word basic, I believe, refers to the simple framework (or calculation) used, i.e., the cost of exporting/importing relative to the monetary value of trade, to calculate cost efficiency.