Does a prosperous global society need access to energy supplies that grow faster than the population? In other words, does energy use per capita need to grow for productivity and wealth to increase? Conventional wisdom says yes, but a new book tackles this question and reaches the surprising and optimistic conclusion that we can live better while consuming less energy and fewer material resources.
To appreciate the importance of this issue, start by considering the following puzzles. Why has your record collection been replaced by a weightless assemblage of bits and bytes? Why do you use a third as much gasoline as your grandfather, even though you drive many more miles? Why is the long-term trend of real (inflation-adjusted) commodity prices down?
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