Global Ecology by Vaclav Smil

Author:Vaclav Smil
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Routledge

Figure 4.10 Life expectancy at birth rises from just over 50 years to about 70 years as the average annual per capita energy use goes from a few GJ to about 50 GJ, but the gain is only between 4 and 7 years with the rise to around 100 GJ, with no gains afterwards.

Source: Data source as in Figure 4.9.

Lifestyles, expectations and global consumption

This resistance would spring from perhaps the most remarkable fact about the modern western mass affluence: from its surprisingly recent origins. Naturally, different countries have moved along their peculiar developmental paths, and all indicators of comfortable living have not marched in step, but it is a valid generalization to conclude that the mass middle-class affluence dates only since the 1950s in North America and since the 1960s in Europe, with Japan joining during the 1970s. To demonstrate this reality it is better to avoid American or Japanese examples: the first instance is one of clearly unparalleled average per capita consumption, the other case is obviously one of nouveau riche.

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