Economics for Rebels An introduction to industrial ecology - Paul Behrens
Jun 4, 2025
Join leading industrial ecologist Paul Behrens, a professor at the University of Oxford, as he unpacks the fascinating world of industrial ecology. He dives into the interconnectedness of our economy and the biosphere, highlighting how energy flows and resource management shape our future. Paul critiques the circular economy for avoiding tough truths about growth and discusses effective food system transformations, including the importance of dietary changes. He also emphasizes the need for urgent scientific communication to inspire meaningful action.
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Economy As Stocks And Flows
- Industrial ecology treats the economy as an ecological system of stocks and flows rather than only monetary exchanges.
- This reveals physical limits and the true foundations of wellbeing like buildings, transport, and material stocks.
Throughput And The Circular Economy
- Sustainability must combine production changes, consumption shifts, and population context, with consumption dominating impacts.
- Reducing throughput and keeping materials within society is essential; circular economy claims must respect thermodynamic limits.
Food Shocks Break Equilibrium Models
- Food shocks (breadbasket failures, embargoes) create non-equilibrium price spikes that can trigger instability or collapse.
- Equilibrium-based economic models fail to capture these large shocks and their societal consequences.
