By Jevons' paradox one understands to that-according to in the economics an observation of William Stanley Jevons, technological progress, which permits the more efficient use of a raw material, in the long run to a increased use of this raw material leads, instead of lowering it. It is not called Jevons' paradox, since it contrary-ran Jevons' of own intuition, actually however is it a paradox historical and by modern economic theories is also described. That the more efficient use of a raw material can cause a change of the consumption altogether, however the kind of the change of other economic variables could be shown depends.

Around this to understand the observation helps that an increased efficiency of the use of a raw material (e.g. gasoline) is equivalent to the acceptance of the price that the use of this raw material obtained (e.g. work). Generally the reduction of the price is connected with a rise of the demand, therefore with a smaller price for work more work "„one buys "“. The increase of the demand for this final product of the raw material can waive - or also not - strongly enough its around the original efficiency increase. In the simplest case it leads to the fact that, if the price of for example gasoline remains constant and the efficiency of the conversion to work is doubled, the effective price of the work halves themselves and to more work is thus acquired. If the amount of acquired work doubles itself to more than, the demand for gasoline rises instead of to finally sink. A complete analysis would have to consider however still that a changed demand for gasoline would have also effects on its price and thus also on the effective price of work.

In its published book The Coal Question Jevons stated 1865 that England Kohlenverbrauch rose after the introduction of steam engine char-beaconed by James of Watt, although it was very many more efficient than Thomas Newcomens earlier variant. Watt innovations made a more economical energy source from coal and led to a rising spreading of its steam engine in many industries. This led to the altogether increased Kohlenverbrauch, although the consumption of each individual application diminished at the same time.

In the current energy discussion Jevons' paradox plays an important role, because it means that despite all energy conservation total energy consumption could rather still increase.

See also: Peak oil

Articles in category "Jevons' paradox"

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• Jevons paradox - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  It is historically called the Jevons Paradox since it ran counter to Jevons's own intuition, but it is not a paradox at all and is well understood by modern ...


• Jevons paradox - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  It is historically called the Jevons Paradox since it ran counter to ... Two points that need to be addressed: Jevons Paradox is sometimes seen as a reason ...


• Jevons paradox: Information From Answers.com
  Jevons paradox In economics , the Jevons Paradox is an observation made by William Stanley Jevons who stated that as technological improvements.


• Jevons' paradox
  In order to answer this question it is useful to look at what ecological economists call the Jevons Paradox.* William Stanley Jevons (1835-1882) is best ...


• The Coal Question AND Jevons' Paradox
  Jevons' paradox (by JB Foster); WS Jevons: The Coal Question, third edition, revised, 1906 (Edited by AW Flux) Title-page Chapter VII: Of the economy of ...