Populations increase till the limit of what their
energy-capturing technology and food-growing technologies allow.
- Initially our ancestors lived only on what they could hunt or gather.
- Then they spread out geographically in search of easy prey.
- Then they harnessing fire and it enabled them warmth to venture into colder climates.
- Next step was taming wild animals for work and raising them for food.
- Next step was planting wild seeds. Gave more food and energy.
The real boom
came in 19th century when we bgean using up the earth's stored-up
energy in coal and then in oil. This permitted the making of steel, ships and factories and it also permitted agriculture to grow on an industrial scale. European
countries and their colonies used were first and they spurted ahead of their competitors in Asia and over 19th and 20th centuries they came to dominate the world.
Perhaps the energy revolution is petering out. Trains, autos, planes, electricity .. all were invented decades ago. Atomic power was pioneered a half century ago and the improvements have been
incremental since then.
The digital revolution made several people millionaires but did not become a "game changer" because it did not contribute to the wealth of nations. A teenager now spends half his waking hours on the net or some electronic device. Does it make him smart or rich?
Not every technological advance increases wealth. Take Twitter. Or nuclear weapons. Or even a simple TV - a great
entertainment device - a commercial success too - but has it boosted the GDP or improved living standards?
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