Donate Bitcoin

Donate Paypal


PeakOil is You

PeakOil is You

Peak oil=Swimming up stream, not the end of the world.

Discussions about the economic and financial ramifications of PEAK OIL

Re: Swimming

Unread postby spot5050 » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 19:01:50

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', 'Y')ou forgot the 3% necessary increase in energy consumption for electrical power which is required for economic growth to service the debt, provide jobs, food, clothing and shelter for the newcomers.

That's not the point I'm making. Surely you don't think I'm suggesting that economic growth can continue at the same rate post-peak! That's ridiculous.
spot5050
Tar Sands
Tar Sands
 
Posts: 518
Joined: Tue 07 Dec 2004, 04:00:00
Location: Cheshire, England

Re: Swimming

Unread postby MonteQuest » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 19:33:10

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('spot5050', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', 'Y')ou forgot the 3% necessary increase in energy consumption for electrical power which is required for economic growth to service the debt, provide jobs, food, clothing and shelter for the newcomers.

That's not the point I'm making. Surely you don't think I'm suggesting that economic growth can continue at the same rate post-peak! That's ridiculous.


No, I don't, but you said:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'L')ets say energy depletes at 1.5% pa post-peak but we get 2% pa more efficient due to being cleverer better faster; then PO will turn out to be a brake on economic growth not the end of it, or even a reversal of it.

Dealing with PO will be like swimming upstream but wont be the end of the world.


Jevon's Paradox takes out the efficiency answer and the increase in energy consumption required for any economic growth makes for swimming upstream against a tidal wave. With your numbers, we are still short 2.5%. Not the end of the world, but more than just a "brake" on growth--more like the end of it. Sure, we might scrape by for a few years, but soon the cumulative loss of energy and increase in demand will stop growth in it's tracks--barring a paradigm shift in our thinking about growth of any kind.
A Saudi saying, "My father rode a camel. I drive a car. My son flies a jet-plane. His son will ride a camel."
User avatar
MonteQuest
Expert
Expert
 
Posts: 16593
Joined: Mon 06 Sep 2004, 03:00:00
Location: Westboro, MO

Re: Swimming

Unread postby spot5050 » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 20:05:15

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', 'J')evon's Paradox takes out the efficiency answer and the increase in energy consumption required for any economic growth makes for swimming upstream against a tidal wave.

No it doesn't.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jevons', 'I')t is wholly a confusion of ideas, to suppose that the economic use of fuel is equivalent to a diminished consumption. The very contrary is the truth. As a rule, the new modes of economy will lead to an increase of consumption according to a principle recognized in many parallel instances?.

Jevons' paradox does not contradict what I'm saying. I can't understand why you think it does any more than I can understand why you think I was saying that we can continue at this rate of growth.
spot5050
Tar Sands
Tar Sands
 
Posts: 518
Joined: Tue 07 Dec 2004, 04:00:00
Location: Cheshire, England
Top

Re: Swimming

Unread postby MonteQuest » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 20:17:01

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('spot5050', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', 'J')evon's Paradox takes out the efficiency answer and the increase in energy consumption required for any economic growth makes for swimming upstream against a tidal wave.

No it doesn't.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jevons', 'I')t is wholly a confusion of ideas, to suppose that the economic use of fuel is equivalent to a diminished consumption. The very contrary is the truth. As a rule, the new modes of economy will lead to an increase of consumption according to a principle recognized in many parallel instances?.

Jevons' paradox does not contradict what I'm saying. I can't understand why you think it does any more than I can understand why you think I was saying that we can continue at this rate of growth.


You are saying if we achieve a 2% efficiency increase that that will allow for growth in a 1.5% decline. Jevon's Paradox says that that increase in efficiency will create an increase in consumption negating that effort.

I never said you said we could continue at this rate of growth. I merely pointed out some missing elements in your argument, i.e., the new energy, above and beyond increases in efficiency, that are required for growth. Anything less than a 3% increase in energy consumption is a recession. .5% is depression. Hardly a brake.

Remember, our economy is based upon infinite growth. When it slows, we have a recession, when it nearly stops, we have a depression. when it stops all together, we collaspe.
A Saudi saying, "My father rode a camel. I drive a car. My son flies a jet-plane. His son will ride a camel."
User avatar
MonteQuest
Expert
Expert
 
Posts: 16593
Joined: Mon 06 Sep 2004, 03:00:00
Location: Westboro, MO
Top

Re: Swimming

Unread postby spot5050 » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 21:02:44

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', 'Y')ou are saying if we achieve a 2% efficiency increase that that will allow for growth in a 1.5% decline.

Not quite. I'm saying there are two factors: a decline in energy output of say 2%, and an increase in energy efficiency, call it x%.

What is x?

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', 'J')evon's Paradox says that that increase in efficiency will create an increase in consumption negating that effort.

Yes Jevons is correct when supply is ever increasing.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', 'A')nything less than a 3% increase in energy consumption is a recession. .5% is depression. Hardly a brake.

I disagree.

Jevons' paradox does not prove that we need 3% increase in energy pa. Jevons lived in a time when coal output increased every year. Post-peak is different. Jevons paradox was radical at the time because it said that increased efficiency does not lead to decreased consumption in a world where a resource is getting cheaper. We live in that world but very soon we will not.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', 'R')emember, our economy is based upon infinite growth. When it slows, we have a recession, when it nearly stops, we have a depression. when it stops all together, we collaspe.


In order to translate Jevons' paradox into a PO world, you must prefix it with the phrase "all other things being equal...".
spot5050
Tar Sands
Tar Sands
 
Posts: 518
Joined: Tue 07 Dec 2004, 04:00:00
Location: Cheshire, England
Top

Unread postby jato » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 21:20:44

I like my new graph! I am a visual person. :lol:

Let’s see all of those different decline percentages bantered about:


Image
jato
 

Unread postby spot5050 » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 21:27:03

I'm a visual person too jato. Have you got a graph for -0.1%, or dare I say it, +0.1%?
spot5050
Tar Sands
Tar Sands
 
Posts: 518
Joined: Tue 07 Dec 2004, 04:00:00
Location: Cheshire, England

Unread postby jato » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 21:35:55

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')'m a visual person too jato. Have you got a graph for -0.1%, or dare I say it, +0.1%?


I don't follow...I have never heard of a %0.1 decline curve...do you mean for a few years during the "plateau" phase at the top of the oil curve?
jato
 
Top

Unread postby jato » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 21:42:03

BTW, I think a %2 depletion is optimistic.
jato
 

Re: Swimming

Unread postby MonteQuest » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 21:43:58

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('spot5050', ' ')
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MonteQuest', 'J')evon's Paradox says that that increase in efficiency will create an increase in consumption negating that effort.

Yes Jevons is correct when supply is ever increasing.


Efficiency increases supply and it gets consumed. Back to square one. That's why it is called a paradox. How are you going to keep that saved energy from being consumed by a energy hungry world?

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'J')evons' paradox does not prove that we need 3% increase in energy pa.


Never said it did. Historically, in a growing economy, a 3% increase in electrical energy consumption is required to sustain the economy. Without that growth, the debt cannot be serviced, jobs cannot be created, etc.
A Saudi saying, "My father rode a camel. I drive a car. My son flies a jet-plane. His son will ride a camel."
User avatar
MonteQuest
Expert
Expert
 
Posts: 16593
Joined: Mon 06 Sep 2004, 03:00:00
Location: Westboro, MO
Top

Unread postby jato » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 21:51:56

Assume a %2 oil decline. Even if we cut out wasteful activity every year (compounding until all wasteful activity is gone), what system is going to pay for all of the unemployed people who worked in:

-Racing industry (mechanics, manufacturers, drivers, sportscasters, race track employees, etc.)
-Starbucks, Krispy Cream (doughnuts), etc.
-Reduction in the Military (a very wasteful industry)
-etc, etc.

What system is going to pay for all of the unemployed masses? Welfare? It is already strained!

What about the population that will continue to grow?
jato
 

Unread postby spot5050 » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 21:55:04

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jato', 'I') don't follow...I have never heard of a %0.1 decline curve...do you mean for a few years during the "plateau" phase at the top of the oil curve?

No!

I mean a net depletion taking into account efficiency improvements.

People on this board waffle on and on about how staggeringly inefficient we are when it comes to energy use and how much more efficient we could be if we tried, but somehow erase that fact from their brains when talking about possible efficiency benefits ie. in terms of offsetting the post-peak decline in energy production.

It's ridiculous that I can't get such a simple point across. What am I doing wrong?!
spot5050
Tar Sands
Tar Sands
 
Posts: 518
Joined: Tue 07 Dec 2004, 04:00:00
Location: Cheshire, England
Top

Unread postby JohnDenver » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 22:02:42

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('spot5050', 'I')t's ridiculous that I can't get such a simple point across. What am I doing wrong?!


Talking to people who don't want to hear what you are saying. :lol:
They want it to crash so bad, they can taste it, so they stubbornly ignore any grounds for optimism. It's called "denial".
JohnDenver
Intermediate Crude
Intermediate Crude
 
Posts: 2145
Joined: Sun 29 Aug 2004, 03:00:00
Top

Unread postby jato » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 22:03:31

First off, oil decline as measured in a percentage is a data point. Efficiency is another data point. They should not be combined IMHO.

Even if efficiency were magically implemented to where it did not screw up the economy, it is only a temporary fix. At a %2 decline (peak oil 2005), within 10 years the world would have to come up with ways to make due with 14,000,000 barrels less oil per day! All the while continue to grow or stagnate (at best). Even if it could be accomplished, it would only be a temporary fix...once all of the "waste" is cut out of the system; we would be right back where we started.

I think we would have a better chance of aliens landing and giving us free energy. Some efforts can be made, but not enough to put off a %2 decline curve!
Last edited by jato on Mon 11 Apr 2005, 22:06:41, edited 1 time in total.
jato
 

Unread postby MonteQuest » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 22:06:39

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('spot5050', ' ')
People on this board waffle on and on about how staggeringly inefficient we are when it comes to energy use and how much more efficient we could be if we tried, but somehow erase that fact from their brains when talking about possible efficiency benefits ie. in terms of offsetting the post-peak decline in energy production.

It's ridiculous that I can't get such a simple point across. What am I doing wrong?!


Explain how you will keep this saved energy sequestered away from consumers so they won't consume it. Remember, this is about achieving a net reduction in energy use. Increasing the efficiency will make more energy available, thus lowering the price. Price goes lower, people consume more. Now, if you instill efficiency and raise the price at the same time causing demand destruction, then you get around Jevon's Paradox.
A Saudi saying, "My father rode a camel. I drive a car. My son flies a jet-plane. His son will ride a camel."
User avatar
MonteQuest
Expert
Expert
 
Posts: 16593
Joined: Mon 06 Sep 2004, 03:00:00
Location: Westboro, MO
Top

Unread postby spot5050 » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 22:16:28

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JohnDenver', 'T')alking to people who don't want to hear what you are saying. :lol:

Think you're correct there.

jato lets try to find some common ground here.

Do you agree or disagree with "There are inefficiencies in the way we use energy. There are ways we can be more efficient." ?

I say yes. You?
spot5050
Tar Sands
Tar Sands
 
Posts: 518
Joined: Tue 07 Dec 2004, 04:00:00
Location: Cheshire, England
Top

Unread postby jato » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 22:20:59

Yes (this should be fun).

[edit]Some of these inefficiencies keep people employed, yes or no?
jato
 

Unread postby spot5050 » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 22:28:21

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jato', 'Y')es...and a lot of the inefficiencies keep people employed.

So that's a yes.

Do you agree or disagree with "Post-peak, the improvements in efficiency will offset some of the decline." ?

Again I say yes. U?
spot5050
Tar Sands
Tar Sands
 
Posts: 518
Joined: Tue 07 Dec 2004, 04:00:00
Location: Cheshire, England
Top

Unread postby jato » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 22:32:36

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'D')o you agree or disagree with "Post-peak, the improvements in efficiency will offset some of the decline." ?


Disagree.

Efficiency could make better use of the energy we have, but it will not offset the decline at all. They are two seperate issues. Post peak the oil companies will continue to pump oil as fast as they can and someone will buy/burn/use it.
jato
 
Top

Unread postby spot5050 » Mon 11 Apr 2005, 22:37:20

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jato', 'E')fficiency could make better use of the energy we have, but it will not offset the decline at all.

Why?
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jato', 'T')hey are two seperate issues.

Why?
spot5050
Tar Sands
Tar Sands
 
Posts: 518
Joined: Tue 07 Dec 2004, 04:00:00
Location: Cheshire, England
Top

PreviousNext

Return to Economics & Finance

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

cron