The second law of economics: energy, entropy, and the origins of wealth

Nothing happens in the world without energy conversion and entropy production. These fundamental natural laws are familiar to most of us when applied to the evolution of stars, biological processes, or the working of an internal combustion engine, but what about industrial economies and wealth production, or their constant companion, pollution? Does economics conform to the First and the Second Law of Thermodynamics? In this important book, Reiner Kümmel takes us on a fascinating tour of these laws and their influence on natural, technological, and social evolution. Analyzing economic growth in Germany, Japan, and the United States in light of technological constraints on capital, labor,and energy, Professor Kümmel upends conventional economic wisdom by showing that the productive power of energy far outweighs its small share of costs, while for labor just the opposite is true. Wealth creation by energy conversionis accompanied and limited by polluting emissions that are coupled to entropyproduction. These facts constitute the Second Law of Economics. They take on unprecedented importance in a world that is facing peak oil, debt-driven economic turmoil, and threats from pollution and climate change. They complement the First Law of Economics: Wealth is allocated on markets, and the legal framework determines the outcome. By applying the First and Second Law we understand the true origins of wealth production, the issues that imperil the goal of sustainable development, and the technological options that are compatible both with this goal and with natural laws. The critical role of energy and entropy in the productive sectors of the economy must be realized if we are to create a road map that avoids a Dark Age of shrinking natural resources, environmental degradation, and increasing social tensions. INDICE: Chapter 1: PROLOGUE: Time Travel with Abel. From Big Bang to Sun. Light on Earth. As Life Goes. Fire and Grain. Ancient Empires. Wind Power, Gunpowder and Wood. Industrial Revolution. Golden Age. Outlook. References . Chapter 2: ENERGY. 2.1 Understanding the Prime Mover . 2.1.1 How the Energy Concept Evolved . 2.1.2 Energy for All and Forever . 2.1.3 Energy Quantity and Quality . 2.2 Sun and Earth. 2.2.1 Energy Production in the Sun. 2.2.2 The Natural Greenhouse Effect. 2.2.3 Solar Activity and Climate. 2.2.4 Photosynthesis, Respiration and Food Production. 2.3 Amplifiers of Muscles and Brain. 2.3.1 Heat Engines. 2.3.2 Transistors . 2.4 Energy Services. 2.4.1 Freedom from Toil . 2.4.2 Comfort, Mobility, Information. 2.4.3 Political Power . 2.5 Consumption - and What is Left. 2.5.1 Consumption of Energy Carriers. 2.5.2 Reserves and Resources of Fossil and Nuclear Fuels. 2.5.3 Renewable Energies. 2.5.4 Energy Conservation . 2.6 Technological Perspectives. 2.6.1 Fission. 2.6.2 Fusion. 2.6.3Solar Power from Deserts and Space. 2.7 Appendix A: Basic Forms of Energy. 2.7.1 System Energies. 2.7.2 Work and Heat. 2.7.3 Enthalpy and Exergy. 2.7.4 Thermodynamic Potentials. 2.8 Appendix B: Energy Units References . Chapter 3: ENTROPY. 3.1 No Free Lunch. 3.2 Equipartition, the Toddler and Entropy . 3.3 States of Systems. 3.4 The Way Things Change. 3.4.1 Driving Towards Disorder. 3.4.2 Haste Makes Waste: Irreversible Processes. 3.5 Arrow of Time. 3.6 Entropy Production and Emissions. 3.6.1 Sources and Substances. 3.6.2 Anthropogenic Greenhouse Effect. 3.6.3 Pollution Control and Heat Equivalents of NO _X , SO₂, CO₂, and Nuclear Waste 3.7 Appendix: Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics and Second Law. 3.7.1 Gibbs' Fundamental Equation. 3.7.2 Balance Equations. 3.7.3 Density of Entropy Production References . Chapter 4:ECONOMY. 4.1 Complementary Perspectives on the Economy . 4.2 Energy, Entropy and the Growth Paradigm. 4.3 Pre-Analytic Vision: The Law of Diminishing Returns. 4.4 How Technological Constraints Change Economic Equilibrium . 4.4.1 Output Elasticities . 4.4.2 Shadow Prices . 4.4.3 Appendix 1: Maximizing Profit. 4.4.4 Appendix 2: Maximizing Overall Welfare. 4.5 The Second Law of Economics. 4.5.1 Levels of Wealth Creation. 4.5.2 The Technological Constraints on Capital, Labor and Energy. 4.5.3 Modeling Production. 4.5.4 Economic Growth in German, Japan, and the USA. 4.5.5 The Productive Powers of Capital, Labor, Energy, and Creativity. 4.5.6 Cointegration. 4.5.7 The 'Useful Work' Approach. 4.5.8 Pollution, Recycling and Perspectives on Growth. 4.5.9 Appendix 3: Aggregating Output and Factors in Physical Terms. 4.5.10 Appendix 4: Explicit Constraint Equations. 4.5.11 Appendix 5: Empirical Data of Output and Inputs. 4.5.12 Appendix 6: Determining Technology Parameters. 4.6 Distribution of Wealth. 4.6.1 Adam Smith's Concepts and Karl Marx' Error. 4.6.2 Rich and Poor. 4.6.3 Taxes andDebts. 4.6.4 Discounting the Futu

• ISBN: 978-1-4419-9364-9
• Editorial: Springer New York
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 281
• Fecha Publicación: 12/07/2011
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés