Understanding the Jevons paradox

Abstract

There is considerable debate about the connections between efficiency and levels of resource consumption, particularly about the Jevons paradox and the rebound effect. To help clarify a variety of misunderstandings, we distinguish between the empirical claim that efficiency is often associated with rising resource consumption and the causal claim that efficiency leads to greater resource use. We show that at a variety of levels, a positive correlation between efficiency and resource consumption is common, suggesting that there is something to be explained. We then present various reasons that may explain these associations, some of which do not suggest a direct causal link between efficiency and consumption, but rather a connection through other mediating factors, and some of which do suggest a causal connection. We note that political economic theories propose that the effect of efficiency on consumption levels is not necessarily immediate and direct, but rather due to how it affects developmental pathways. We present an empirical analysis, using panel data on nations, which shows that more efficient nations tend to have higher rates of growth in electricity and overall energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, consistent with what political economic theories suggest.

Keywords:

• Jevons paradox
• rebound effect
• efficiency

Acknowledgement

The first author’s contribution was supported in part by the Friends for the Institute for Advanced Study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Richard York

Richard York is Director and Professor of Environmental Studies and Professor of Sociology at the University of Oregon. He was Chair of the Environment and Technology Section (ETS) of the American Sociological Association (ASA) in 2014. His research focuses on environmental sociology, ecological economics, animal studies, and the sociology of science. In recognition of his research, he has twice (2004 and 2007) received the Outstanding Publication Award and once (2011) the Honorable Mention for the same award from the ETS of the ASA, the Rural Sociology Best Paper Award (2011) from the Rural Sociological Society, and the Distinguished Scholarship Award from the Section on Animals & Society of the ASA (2015). He has also received the Teaching and Mentorship Award (2011) from the ETS of the ASA, and the Thomas F. Herman Faculty Achievement Award for Distinguished Teaching (2013) and the Faculty Excellence Award (2013) from the University of Oregon.

Julius Alexander McGee

Julius A. McGee is a Doctoral Candidate in sociology at the University of Oregon. His research interest are in environmental sociology, sustainability, and agriculture.