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The Jevons Paradox

Marshall came to encapsulate the marginal thought of the late nineteenth century with large contributions from economists Jevons, Menger, Walras and Pareto. It is worth recalling some of Jevons.

The called "Jevons Paradox" (raised by William Stanley Jevons in his book 1865 of The Coal Question / The problem Coal ) said that improving efficiency in coal consumption involved greater use of steam engines in most industries, bringing the total coal consumption was higher at the end ... we must keep in mind that Watt had greatly improved the first steam engine design (Newcomen) ... and consumption of coal.

The Jevons paradox leads to a result: improve efficiency decreases instantaneous consumption but increases the use of model optimized, causing a global consumption growth .

short, we save more energy to end up spending more!

This paradox has been observed in many situations of everyday life.

The paradox can be explained in two ways:

- First , one must understand that a more efficient in energy use encourages greater use of the same, which surpasses the effect of these savings . Although the engines are now more efficient vehicles (hybrid vehicles, electric ...), the fact is that the tendency is gradually increasing use of these vehicles, which also will tour a major distances every day ... spending more electricity, the consumption increase significantly in the future.

- The second explanation would be given by the fact that to the extent that greater economic efficiency raises the country's economic benefits, it also increases the accumulation process and growth in various sectors of the economy that will eventually consume more more energy in a spiral that feeds on itself. Mayor
growth, more need to use subsidiary industries ... more ... more income, more spending on new generation vehicles ... and back to eat!

We must ask ourselves perhaps, if the energy savings reduce maximum speed on our highways at 110 will this paradox ...

Zabaleta Mark

http://markdezabaleta.blogspot.com

http://www.markdezabaleta.com