ABSTRACT
This chapter builds upon Chapter 2, which gives the historical perspective of the Jevons Paradox, and Chapter 3, which gives a theoretical and empirical analysis of the pattern of change of societal metabolism associated with the Jevons Paradox, to examine current literature and to provide an empirical macroeconomic analysis of various countries and regions to determine if the Jevons Paradox exists. Such an analysis is important, especially given the current debates on global warming and peak oil. People around the globe have to contend with problems related to pollution, mostly caused by energy consumption. While rare, energy blackouts are occurring more often as the demand for energy rises. Every day there are news reports on higher energy costs and a diminishing supply of natural resources to use for energy production. Yet we as world citizens are told not to worry by politicians, scientists, economists and other stakeholders, because technological advances will serve as a panacea to our problems. If the Jevons Paradox does exist, then technology as a liberator is a myth and appropriate sustainable development policies and behaviours need to be adapted before it is too late. This chapter seeks to contribute to the debate by illustrating whether or not the Jevons Paradox may exist for various countries and regions so that stakeholders can take action.
