Stories tagged with "inequality"

I Dream of GINI - Wealth (In)equality after Resource Depletion

Posted by Nate Hagens on April 12, 2009 - 10:54am in The Oil Drum: Campfire
Topic: Sociology/Psychology
Tags: competition, demand, gini coefficient, income, inequality, original [list all tags]

Increasingly, I think social limits to growth are occurring before strict resource limits will ever be realized (though the beginning of the latter had an influence on the former). As better data comes to light it is becoming apparent that we've been squeezing extra resources from the system via extended use of and confidence in, abstract fiat instruments, thus further decoupling our situation from longer term physical reality. Cheap energy has subsidized many things in human society; technology, leisure, peace, art, food, lifespans, spatial distribution, etc. But not often mentioned is its impact on social equality. I plan to write a more empirical, evidence based post in the future on this topic - tonight's Campfire questions will revolve around whether the future will bring more equality between and among human groups, or less.

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Resource Curse and Rising Inequality - Jon Erickson on Reality Report

Posted by Gail the Actuary on April 6, 2009 - 9:10am
Topic: Environment/Sustainability
Tags: inequality, resource utilization [list all tags]

Today on Global Public Media's "The Reality Report", Jason's guest will be University of Vermont Professor Jon Erickson who will discuss the global credit crisis in the context of the resource course and rising inequality. Jon and Jason will discuss how to possible change our institutions to be more aligned with our biophysical and psychological realities.

Jon is one of Nate's advisors at the University of Vermont. The Reality Report airs today at 12:10 EST on www.kzyx.org.

According to pre-recording emails, some the discussion may be about the following:

The economic growth path that the U.S. has been on over the last 30 to 40 years has lead to greater inequality and less well-being. This was not by accident. It was designed and supported by economic theory that said high growth comes from higher inequality. This path is biophysically bankrupt and socially undesirable.

Should we go back to this path of growing economy and shrinking well-being? What might another way look like?

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Depletion Thoughts #2 - On Octuplets and Lifeboat Ethics

Posted by Nate Hagens on February 15, 2009 - 11:26am in The Oil Drum: Campfire
Topic: Demand/Consumption
Tags: campfire, fertility drugs, garret hardin, inequality, lifeboat ethics, original, overpopulation [list all tags]

Below the fold is a guest post from Cornelius pointing out the impact of having 14 children, from a standpoint of Garret Hardin's Lifeboat Ethics.



(The Suleman Octuplets)

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