Why Catalonia will see its energy metabolism increase in the near future: an application of MuSIASEM

Jesus Ramos-Martin and S. Cañellas-Bolta
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S. Cañellas-Bolta: Consell Assessor per al Desenvolupament Sostenible, Generalitat de Catalunya

Working Papers from Department of Applied Economics at Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona

Abstract: This paper applies the so-called Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM) to the economy of the Spanish region of Catalonia. By applying Georgescu-Roegen’s fund-flow model, it arrives at the conclusion that within a context of the end of cheap oil, the current development model based on the growth of low productivity sectors such as services and construction must change. The change is needed not only because of the increasing scarcity of affordable energy carriers, or because of the increasing environmental impact that the present development represents, but also because of an ageing population that demands labour productivity gains. This will imply industry requiring more energy consumption per worker in order to increase its productivity, and therefore its competitiveness. Thus, we conclude that energy intensity, and exosomatic energy metabolism of Catalonia will increase dramatically in the near future unless major conservation efforts are implemented in both the household and transport sectors.

Keywords: Catalonia; exosomatic energy; energy metabolism; economic development; hierarchical levels; multi-scale; integrated analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O11 O13 O52 Q01 Q57 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 15 pages
Date: 2008-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene and nep-env
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea0806

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