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Archived entries for technology

März 14, 2010
In Around the World
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Looking forward to green gadgets in 2010

I recently came across various links show casing the future of technology products. These products not only substantiated the importance of green in the coming future but also demonstrated that the resources are being directed to bring about such innovations.

That the green is being taken seriously! This is obviously something to be happy about. Ingenious innovative concepts that are eco friendly – what is not there to support?

Out of the long list of products that interested me, I am posting here a couple of concepts that I think stand a high chance of massive scalability in the coming future. An impressive idea of Turbine light which is going to be a part of the Greener Gadgets conference at New York City attracted my attention the most. The concept harnesses the power from the wind of the rushing cars to light up the roads. You will be getting more details about the concept during the conference which is scheduled on 25th February 2010. The conference has an interesting panel of presenters and has an interesting Design Competition which chose 10 entries on the basis of innovation and the eco-friendliness. The winners will be selected on the basis of public voting. So do check out the link and vote for the best innovative design!

Februar 14, 2010
In Growth, Topic
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Does our society need growth?

One can answer this question looking at both sides of the income equals outcome equation.

I will try to treat the income side. Therefore, I´ll specify the question a little: do we need steady growth to guarantee a certain minimum life standard for all human beings?
The other rather philosophical question would be whether we need technological growth, resulting in more work efficiency, more comfort and also longer estimated life times.
Keynes wrote in his standard work that he expected us to nowadays live in a perfect world without any unemployment – he underestimated the rising human pursuit of comfort and luxury: despite the exponential growth of work efficiency, increasing human desires have resulted in not only constant but even rising unemployment rates.

To facilitate the question, I will divide up our society into two parts: the employees and the capitalists. All assumptions are based on a solow model with integrated work efficiency affecting technological progress.
Additionally, I will assume that our international economy is more or less pretty close to the stationary point: the accumulation of capital has pretty far reached its maximum.
As I want to answer the question whether growth is required and possible when the global economy is saturated, I will assume the following scenario: