The approach to R&D is changing because long-term research was a luxury only a monopoly could afford.

研发的方式正在改变，因为长期研究在过去是只有垄断企业能搞得起的奢侈活动。

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in such a way that after the rates were raised, they likely couldn't afford to pay the mortgage anymore or they'd be under great stress in trying to do so.

这种“引逗利率，以至于到后来他们没有能力偿还贷款,或者为了还贷给生活造成巨大压力。

耶鲁公开课 - 金融市场课程节选

For homeowners to qualify they'd have to be able to afford a reasonable interest rate, and their lender would have to take a haircut on the loan.

NPR: Rep. Frank: Use $300 Billion to Fight Foreclosures

The bottom line is that too many Americans like you can't afford to build the kinds of businesses you'd been hoping to build.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Explains Why Health Insurance Reform is Crucial for Small Business | The White House

"This research gives the lie to the argument that bosses can't afford to contribute to decent pension schemes - they'd just prefer to keep them to themselves, " said the head of the Rail Maritime Transport Union (RMT), Bob Crow.

BBC: NEWS | Business | Directors 'have ?1bn pension pot'