Paradoxical Harvest: Energy and Explanation in British History, 1870-1914CUP Archive, 1982 M09 30 - 141 pages This book is a study of the relationship between the use of energy in society and the general pattern of development in Great Britain during the 1870-1914 era. Professor Adams argues that Britain's apparent 'decline' in this period was not in fact a decline but a levelling off in capacity to do work, a result of the country's collective decision to invest more heavily abroad than at home. This pattern accords with Lotka's general energetic principle of natural selection. Specifically, Britain found it necessary to invest abroad, thereby creating an industrial environment for its own products and giving the impetus to other industrial nations - especially the United States and Germany - to seriously threaten Britain's primary position in industry and trade. The book should be of interest to those concerned with development, economic growth, energy and society, cultural development, and in general to specialists in anthropology, sociology, European and British history, economics and economic history. |
Contents
trade investment and invisibles | 53 |
skills | 63 |
The case of grain agriculture | 70 |
Advantages at home | 81 |
The relation of human energy to nonhuman energy | 101 |
Conclusion | 111 |
Obtaining human energy sectors | 127 |
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Paradoxical Harvest: Energy and explanation in British History, 1870-1914 Richard N. Adams No preview available - 1982 |
Common terms and phrases
abroad action activities analysis areas argue behavior Britain British industry capital capitalist census central complex component concern Corn Laws course cultural Deane and Cole decisions decline dissipative structures domestic E. O. Wilson economic effect emergence energetic energy consumption energy costs energy flow energy forms environment expansion exports factors figures flow of energy fluctuating foreign investment free trade Germany growth high farming Hobsbawm human energy sectors important increase increasingly individual industrial revolution inhibiting inputs interests investors iron and steel kind laissez-faire larger Lotka's principle major material ment Mitchell and Deane nation-states natural selection nineteenth century nomic nonhuman energy operate organization pattern percentage problems protectionism real wages REG sector regulation regulatory relative role selection explanation social society Source specific suggests Table theory tion TR sector triggers United Kingdom Victorian era world structure yield