Jevons paradox
In Jevons ' paradox is understood in economics, William Stanley Jevons of an observation to the effect that technological progress that allows the efficient use of a raw material, ultimately leading to increased use of this raw material, rather than decrease it. In a wider sense, is spoken of rebound effect.
In his 1865 book The Coal Question, Jevons observed that England's consumption of coal after the introduction of James Watt's coal-fired steam engine increased, although it was much more efficient than Thomas Newcomen's earlier version. Watts innovations made coal a more cost effective source of energy and led to an increasing spread of his steam engine in the transport sector and other industrial sectors. This led to the increased total coal consumption, although at the same time eased the consumption of each individual application.
Background and other applications
A more efficient use of raw material thereby enables you to do more work and make products. This price cuts are connected that increase demand and therefore possibly canceling the original efficiency. This also encourages the establishment of new market segments and services.
- Hoped for energy savings through the introduction of summer time was offset by increased evening activities partially.
- Induced traffic: time gains from new transport infrastructure and transport are offset by higher travel distances, travel frequencies and increased commuting and not lead in the long run also to time - and energy savings.
- Increased computer power is mostly offset by more complex software, and demanding computer games.
Impact on resource consumption and prices
Jevons ' Paradox was also the precursor of today's debate about potential global impact of peak oil and sensible countermeasures. After Jevons not cause energy savings and increased efficiency to a reduction of the raw material or energy consumption; therefore he feared an imminent energy crisis due to the long run not to be covered carbon demand. This did not materialize as a result of entry into the petroleum use from 1859. Global also provided new techniques and procedures (2008 ), not only to promote today significantly more coal cheaper than at times Jevons was possible or conceivable, but also to open up new sources of energy and to use with high efficiency for new applications and markets. After Julian L. Simon, this should also apply to future scarcity scenarios.
Jevons had, however, applied only to the British coal reserves, not on a global supply. The coal production peak in the United Kingdom did not occur until 1930; until over 100 years after the publication of The Coal Question in 1869 it came to the ( politically induced ) collapse of coal mining in his home country with those predicted by him serious consequences for the British steel production.