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102 comments on Understanding the current energy crisis in South Africa

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Rethin on February 4, 2008 - 10:33am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

You can see it for yourself in the EIA's data on energy intensity of the economy. The amount of energy required to produce a dollar of GDP fell only 20% from 1949 to 1980, but has fallen by about 45% since then -- nearly triple the previous rate.

You think that might have something to do with the offshoring of US industry?

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Pitt the Elder on February 5, 2008 - 4:40pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

You think that might have something to do with the offshoring of US industry?

That's certainly a factor, but far from the only one. Indeed, the tales of US manufacturing's demise are greatly exaggerated.

See also here or here. US manufacturing is still 20% of the world's manufacturing, commensurate to the US economy's 20% share of the world economy.

Of course, it's worth noting that the world's energy intensity (btu/$ of GDP, inflation-adjusted) has fallen 7-15% in the last 10 years (same EIA data, 15% based on PPP, 7% based on market exchange rates), so it's not like the energy consumption has simply been pushed elsewhere.

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102 comments on Understanding the current energy crisis in South Africa

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