Decoupling the economy from energy

2021-05-20 — 2023-10-03

Wherein is examined the prospect of economic decoupling from energy through virtual worlds and enclosure of the intellectual commons, with focus on licensed experiences and metaverse residency.

design
ecology
economics
housing
incentive mechanisms
innovation
institutions
intellectual property
making things
markets
money
physics
policy
snarks
spatial
statmech
tail risk
technology
the rather superior sort of city
wonk
Figure 1

A placeholder about the notion of decoupling the economy from energy and physical constraints more generally. Can we have prosperity without an ever-increasing energy footprint?

1 Virtual worlds

Is the ideal plan to make sure that most people live in virtuality rather than reality?

2 Enclosing the intellectual commons

What are the incentives of a non-energy-coupled economy? In a world that is just eternal reselling of intellectual property, a kind of rentier system, facing the same problem the Georgists raise about landlords, but even more intimate, if our very thoughts and experiences are licensed?

3 Can information technology be low-carbon actually?

4 Physical infrastructure

See physical infrastructure.

5 References

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