When deficits and debts reached historically high levels, he believed, it was necessary to spell out how they would be reduced in the long term.

And because the auditing process is more transparent, it may even help to reduce the level of financial abuse in the long term.

Practicing stress-relieving techniques may help to reduce blood pressure in the short term.

His aides acknowledge that their proposal would do little to reduce the welfare rolls in the short term.

Pumping oil out of Iraq may reduce petroleum prices in the short term, but will be unable to perpetually lower the price.

Such systems have the potential to reduce agricultural production in the long term.

Mr. Nymann said privatization was expected to reduce production in the short term.

This can help you to decide if it is better to buy a more expensive product or service initially to reduce costs in the longer term.

Mr. Florio is also suggesting other measures that he says would reduce premiums in the long term.

This reduces the threat to an extremely low level, in the short term.