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Environment & Energy
In reply to the discussion: Jevons: a 19th Century Zeno [View all]NoOneMan
(4,795 posts)45. Can you document that cheaper oil doesn't result in more people using oil?
The relationship between the price of oil and demand is pretty clear (though, oil being a required fuel we now depend on, it will never operate strictly according to theoretical graphs):
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UmRTuUVy8ys/T5fr8J0QgCI/AAAAAAAACq4/nPPVitvqHbQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-04-25+at+8.17.38+AM.png
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Jevons was making an observation about human psychology, not math or physics
phantom power
Jan 2013
#1
I don't think there's any implied statement about price of resources going down...
phantom power
Jan 2013
#12
Money made available as a result of efficiency doesn't need to be created by fiat.
GliderGuider
Jan 2013
#26
The $100 worth of energy I “saved” would have come from resource extraction
OKIsItJustMe
Jan 2013
#43
I will agree that improving efficiency does not correlate well with a society using less energy
OKIsItJustMe
Jan 2013
#67
Yes - fewer energy sources, fewer manufactured goods, greater transportation costs,
GliderGuider
Jan 2013
#69
“A better example would be people simply switching to a lower wattage traditional bulb…”
OKIsItJustMe
Jan 2013
#25
Those studies were done in the early 80s regarding efficiency standards implemented in late 70s
NoOneMan
Jan 2013
#51
"Economic Implications of Mandated Efficiency Standards for Household Appliances."
NoOneMan
Jan 2013
#55
Can you document this? (i.e. that more efficient cars lead to more consumption.)
OKIsItJustMe
Jan 2013
#41
The specific Jevons-style rebound is probably less significant than general growth
GliderGuider
Jan 2013
#30
In any case, it isn't a strict "rule" but an explanation of observed market behavior
NoOneMan
Jan 2013
#31
Fine, but what's relevant to you is not close to being relevant to society as a whole
wtmusic
Jan 2013
#94
Presuming that society on a whole will not lower the carbon-intensity of their energy
NoOneMan
Jan 2013
#96
In general, we are going about pretending we don't even have to think about these matters
NoOneMan
Jan 2013
#90
With transglobal corporate monsters ruling all, Zeno's paradox certainly applies to you and me...
Peace Patriot
Jan 2013
#76