deterioration; getting worse; worsening; aggravation; degeneration; corruption
being very good at; strongest point
the same; the said; likewise
nationwide; countrywide; national; throughout the country
business conditions; the market; good (economic) times; prosperity; liveliness; energy
declining birth rate; decline in the number of children; sub-replacement fertility
one's daily milieu; neighbourhood; neighborhood; zone of life; sphere of life
to be a background factor; to be an underlying reason
fighting bravely; strenuous efforts
deficit operation; operating at a loss; being in the red
expenditure; disbursement; expenses
disposition to operate in the red; tendency to have chronic deficits
moving into the black; becoming profitable
public-service corporation; charitable corporation; juridical (legal) person working for the public good
expenses; expenditure; outgoings; outlays; costs
executive; government; administration; governance; the authorities
retiring high-ranking government officials taking a lucrative job in a private or semi-private corporation; command (from superior to inferior, government to private sector, etc.); order; descent from heaven
shortage of capital; lack of funds; cash flow problem
pride; dignity; self-respect
racking one's brains; worrying oneself; being anxious
to backfire; to produce a result opposite to what was expected or intended
to neglect; to be negligent in; to be neglectful of; to improve (of an illness); to get better
prior investment; upfront investment
large (amount of money); huge; hefty; expensive
traditional; from ancient times; formerly
to be interested in; to take an interest in; to care about
precious; valuable; priceless; noble; exalted; sacred
grand; magnificent; majestic; great; sublime
to imitate; to follow; to copy; to emulate