Limits to Growth Exam Questions And Answers

World 3 Model - ANS -Developed in 1970's to project world pop., food production, industrial output, pollution emissions, and resource depletion Limits to growth 1972 (controversial) -If current trends continue, limits to growth reached within next 100 years with sudden uncontrollable decline in population and industrial capacity (Malthus bc underestimation of birth control and tech?) - Authors wished to inform people and give call to action Ecological Footprint - ANS - Land area req. to provide resources and absorb the emissions of global society World 3 LtoG 4 Scenarios - ANS 1. Continuous growth (no longer possible) 2.Logistic growth (not possible) 3. Overshoot and oscillation 4. Overshoot and collapse Beyond the limits (1992) - ANS -Ecological footprint had already exceeded carrying capacity -Unsustainable deforestation, soil erosion, overfishing, global warming Conflicts 1)More intensive and intensive use will cause renewable resources to decrease and price go up. market would dictate move to substitute but there is no substitutes. 2)Waste generated (Ability to absorb is limited) Daly - ANS Steady State Economics (1977) 1)Constant stocks of artifacts and people maintained at desired efficient level (similar to classical bc level of subsistence) -0 population, economic growth 2) Entropy - measure of amt of energy no longer capable of conversion into work -Low entropy > High entropy 3) Main point is that SSE is desirable & necessary. Attainment will require changes in values, priorities, and institutions. 4) Modern Malthusian arguement - ultimate limit to growth is low entropy matter energy 5) Need to change view form "more is better" > "enough is best" 6) Typical reaction to shortages - more depletion of stocks = counter intuitive 7) Insights of Economics - Economics focus on intermediate means and intermediate ends 8) Growth (GDP) unsustainable on finite planet -Increased GDP = Increased use of nature resources = greater throughput and pollution Thermodynamics - ANS 1) Matter can not be created or destroyed 2) Energy can not be recycled and matter can only be recycled at less than 100% Basic Identity - ANS Service/Throughput = Service/stock * Stock/throughput Stocks - ANS Total input of goods and populaiton (constant) Services - ANS Satisfaction derived when people consume goods and services Throughput - ANS Entropic flow of matter energy from natures sinks through human economys back to natures sinks as pollution -Needed to maintain new stocks -Final Cost Improvement - ANS -Reduce throughput by greater efficiency of more durable goods -More service for a given stock - greater enjoyment from what we have Attainment of SSE - ANS 1) Stabilize Population (Birth Licenses) 2) Stabilize Stocks of physical goods and keep throughput below ecological limits > resource depletion quota (nonrenewable and renewable resource quota) 3)LImits to income and wealth to limit consumption (100% tax of income above certain level) Role of gov -Stronger role bc implementation would need authoritarian methods or human moral growth.