Energy Economics

Question 1

Explain why falling birthrates mean that we
are not likely to run out of natural resources.

Answer 1

The world’s pupolation is in the phase of the demographic transition, meaning that both bierth and deat rates are low. Since the demand for resources increases with growing population, declining fertility rates across rich and some developing countries means we’ll see a diminished demand in the long-run.

In addition, energy and water use and solid waste generation both totally and per capita leveled off in rich countries in the 1990s.

Question 2

Describe why using a mix of energy sources
is efficient, even if some of them are quite
costly.

Question 3

Discuss why running out of oil would not
mean running out of energy.