ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the way we measure economic output, gives a brief summary of the cycles, and provides a theory to explain them based on results on economic production functions proved in the appendix. It looks at some strategies used by countries faced with energy constraints in the twentieth century in order to explore more modern dynamics. These dynamics lead to consideration of important sectors of the economy affected by energy constraints. The chapter summarizes the core principles of this movement which were conceived of primarily with the goals of sustainability and using natural ecological systems to human advantage. It reviews some contrasting twenty-first-century strategies and looks at some technology that is currently not implemented on a significant scale which could be used to maintain aspects of our culture in the face of energy constraints.
