Court (2018)_Energy capture, technological change, and economic growth__Accepted version.pdf (599.39 kB)
Energy capture, technological change, and economic growth: an evolutionary perspective
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 15:02 authored by Victor CourtAfter several decades of discussions, mainstream economics still does not recognize the crucial role that energy plays in the economic process. Hence, the purpose of this article is to reformulate a clear and in-depth state of knowledge provided by a thermo-evolutionary perspective of the economic system. First, definitions of essential concepts such as energy, exergy, entropy, self-organization, and dissipative structures are recalled, along with a statement of the laws of thermodynamics. The comprehension of such basics of thermodynamics allows an exploration of the meaning of thermodynamic extremal principles for the evolution of physical and biological systems. A theoretical thermo-evolutionary approach is then used to depict technological change and economic growth in relation to the capture of energy and its dissipation. This theoretical analysis is then placed in a historical context. It is shown that during the entirety of human history, energy has been central to direct the successive phases of technological change and economic development. In particular, energy is crucial to understanding the transition from foraging to farming societies on the one hand, and from farming to industrial societies on the other. Finally, the theoretical and historical insights previously described are used to discuss a possible origin of the economic slowdown of the most advanced economies for the last 40 years. The article concludes that conventional economic growth theories should finally acknowledge the central role that energy plays in the economic process.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
BioPhysical Economics and Resource QualityISSN
2366-0112Publisher
Springer VerlagExternal DOI
Issue
12Volume
3Page range
1-27Department affiliated with
- SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2018-09-13First Open Access (FOA) Date
2018-09-13First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2018-09-11Usage metrics
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