Dematerialization (economics): Difference between revisions
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{{other |Dematerialization (disambiguation)}} |
{{other |Dematerialization (disambiguation)}} |
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In [[economics]], '''dematerialization''' refers to the absolute or relative reduction in the quantity of materials required to serve economic functions in society.<ref>{{cite book |title=Inside the Black Box: Technology and Economics |
In [[economics]], '''dematerialization''' refers to the absolute or relative reduction in the quantity of materials required to serve economic functions in society.<ref>{{cite book |title= Inside the Black Box: Technology and Economics |last= Rosenberg |first= Nathan |authorlink= |year= 1982 |publisher= Cambridge University Press |location= Cambridge, New York |isbn= 0-521-27367-6 |page= 72 |postscript= <!--None--> |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/insideblackboxte00rose }}</ref> In common terms, dematerialization means doing more with less. This concept is similar to [[ephemeralization]] as proposed by [[Buckminster Fuller]]. |
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|first= Nathan |authorlink= |year=1982 |publisher =Cambridge University Press |
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|location= Cambridge, New York |isbn=0-521-27367-6 |page=72 |
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| postscript = <!--None-->}}</ref> In common terms, dematerialization means doing more with less. This concept is similar to [[ephemeralization]] as proposed by [[Buckminster Fuller]]. |
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In 1972, the Club of Rome in its report [[The Limits to Growth]] predicted a steadily increasing demand for material as both economies and populations grew. The report predicted that continually increasing resource demand would eventually lead to an abrupt economic collapse. Studies on material use and economic growth show instead that society is gaining the same economic growth with much less physical material required. Between 1977 and 2001, the amount of material required to meet all needs of [[United States|Americans]] fell from 1.18 trillion pounds to 1.08 trillion pounds, even though the country's population increased by 55 million people. [[Al Gore]] similarly noted in 1999 that since 1949, while the economy tripled, the weight of goods produced did not change.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url = http://reason.com/archives/2001/09/05/dematerializing-the-economy|title = Dematerializing the Economy|last = Bailey|first = Ronald|date = September 5, 2001|work = reason.com|accessdate = September 2, 2014}} </ref> |
In 1972, the Club of Rome in its report [[The Limits to Growth]] predicted a steadily increasing demand for material as both economies and populations grew. The report predicted that continually increasing resource demand would eventually lead to an abrupt economic collapse. Studies on material use and economic growth show instead that society is gaining the same economic growth with much less physical material required. Between 1977 and 2001, the amount of material required to meet all needs of [[United States|Americans]] fell from 1.18 trillion pounds to 1.08 trillion pounds, even though the country's population increased by 55 million people. [[Al Gore]] similarly noted in 1999 that since 1949, while the economy tripled, the weight of goods produced did not change.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url = http://reason.com/archives/2001/09/05/dematerializing-the-economy|title = Dematerializing the Economy|last = Bailey|first = Ronald|date = September 5, 2001|work = reason.com|accessdate = September 2, 2014}} </ref> |
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Revision as of 21:12, 8 September 2019
In economics, dematerialization refers to the absolute or relative reduction in the quantity of materials required to serve economic functions in society.[1] In common terms, dematerialization means doing more with less. This concept is similar to ephemeralization as proposed by Buckminster Fuller.
In 1972, the Club of Rome in its report The Limits to Growth predicted a steadily increasing demand for material as both economies and populations grew. The report predicted that continually increasing resource demand would eventually lead to an abrupt economic collapse. Studies on material use and economic growth show instead that society is gaining the same economic growth with much less physical material required. Between 1977 and 2001, the amount of material required to meet all needs of Americans fell from 1.18 trillion pounds to 1.08 trillion pounds, even though the country's population increased by 55 million people. Al Gore similarly noted in 1999 that since 1949, while the economy tripled, the weight of goods produced did not change.[2]
By most measures, quality of life improved from 1977 to 2001. While consumer demand is constantly increasing, consumers demand services such as communication, heating and housing, and not the raw materials needed to provide these. As a result, there is incentives to provide these with less materials. Copper wire has been replaced with fiber-optics, vinyl records with MP3 players while cars, refrigerators and numerous other items have gotten lighter.[2]
See also
- Anthropogenic metabolism
- Balance of nature
- Circular economy
- Ecological economics
- Ecological footprint
- Energy crisis
- Energy economics
- Energy returned on energy invested
- Global hectare
- Industrial metabolism
- Land (economics)
- Material flow analysis
- Metabolic rift
- Natural resource economics
- Social metabolism
- Urban metabolism
- Water use
References
- ^ Rosenberg, Nathan (1982). Inside the Black Box: Technology and Economics. Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 72. ISBN 0-521-27367-6.
- ^ a b Bailey, Ronald (September 5, 2001). "Dematerializing the Economy". reason.com. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
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