West Virginia’s Elk River Chemical Spill and How We Measure Progress
It’s a cruel irony for the 300,000 West Virginians forced to turn off their taps for five to ten days… will count as a plus according to…GDP.
GDP
Italy’s slow collapse: how declining energy consumption affects GdP
The economy of Italy seem to be declining as a consequence of the increasing cost (or – equivalently – declining energy returns, EROEI) of primary energy sources, mainly natural gas and crude oil.
The other side of the peak: Italy’s collapse of oil and gas consumption
Italy’ peak oil has arrived: we are back to 1967 in terms of oil consumption.
The Negative Natural Interest Rate and Uneconomic Growth
In a recent speech to the International Monetary Fund economist Larry Summers argued that since near zero interest rates have not stimulated GDP growth sufficiently to reach full employment, we probably need a negative interest rate.
Do We Really Need Economic Growth?
The central point of economic policy is maintaining or increasing economic growth…Do you think it’s a realistic approach? An interview with Richard Heinberg for the Polish site Dziennik Opinii.
Five Christmas Gifts that Keep on Giving
Tis the season for gift giving, and if mainstream economists are right, then the best possible gifts are the ones that contribute the most to economic growth.
The Five Dumbest Things You’ll Hear About Sustainability
This one’s about dumb, dumber, and dumbest, plus two intermediate levels for good measure. Ready for the inglorious countdown?
Countering the EcoPessimist
According to New York Magazine and economist Robert Gordon, the good times are over.
The gross domestic problem
My question was: if GDP has so many flaws and numerous attempts were made at finding ‘better’ numbers, then why are we are still using GDP? Is it possible that there are specific interests supporting the nexus between GDP and policymaking? What are the political dimensions of this almighty number? So I set out to do my research on the history of GDP and realized that this story needed to be told. The story of GDP is the story of how we built the type of society we live in. It is the story of how economics took over all other sciences to become the servant of power.
The real reason the economy is broken (and will stay that way)
We are far enough and deep enough into the most heroic monetary and fiscal efforts ever undertaken to finally ask, why aren’t these measures working? Or at least we should be. Oddly, many in DC, on Wall Street, and the Federal Reserve continue to steadfastly refuse to include anything in their approaches and frameworks other than "more of the same."
Economics – Feb 11
•The Trillion Dollar Coin vs. Limits to Growth •Michael Shuman… there’s a local business revolution on the horizon, and we can make it happen •It’s the New Economy, Stupid •Perfect storm, energy, finance and the end of growth
Climate change trumps terrorism as threat to national security
Climate destabilization eclipses all other security threats to human civilization except for a major nuclear war. But the current global economy gives no signals to investors and consumers about the profound implications of climate destabilization on water cycles, agriculture, and humanity’s ability to grow food for seven billion people.