Monday, December 12, 2016

Supply-side activism is a dead end

What actions actually have an effect on today's problems of energy and climate?

First, separate supply-side from demand-side.

Supply-side means stopping the supply of bad things, or increasing the production of good things.
  • opposing pipelines
  • building solar farms
  • keeping cars out of the city
Demand side means reducing the need for bad things.
  • make buses fare-free
  • urbanize to drop birth rate
The economy is driven by demand. As long as there is demand, any savings by efficiency is used. This is why supply-side activism gets no results. You can win battles, but you will lose the war.