Keywords
energy
energy economics
nuclear energy
entropy
How to Cite
Abstract
The article traces energy’s evolution in economic thought, tracing its transition from a marginal element in pre-classical and classical theories to its current status as the biophysical foundation of economic processes. By applying a historical-analytical approach, the study emphasises a necessary methodological shift from the dominant mechanistic-deterministic paradigm toward holistic models that incorporate the laws of thermodynamics and entropy. The author concludes that nuclear energy is the logical next step in usage of incerasingly energy-dense sources, offering a sustainable path for global development within the planet’s ecological boundaries.
References
Ayres, R. U., Ayres, L. W., & Warr, B. (2003). Exergy, power and work in the US economy, 1900–1998. Energy, 28(3), 219–273. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-5442(02)00089-0
Ayres, R. U., van den Bergh, J. C. J. M., Lindenberger, D., & Warr, B. (2013). The underestimated contribution of energy to economic growth. Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 27, 79–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.strueco.2013.07.004
Bercegol, H., & Benisty, H. (2020). An energy-based macroeconomic model validated by global historical series since 1820. Ecological Economics, 192, 107253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.107253
Bogmans, C., Kiyasseh, L., Matsumoto, A., & Pescatori, A. (2020). Energy efficiency gains and economic development: When will global energy demand saturate? IMF Working Papers, 253. https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513561240.001
Boulding, K. E. (1966). The economics of the coming spaceship Earth. In H. Jarrett (Ed.), Environmental quality in a growing economy (pp. 3–14). Resources for the Future/Johns Hopkins University Press.
BP Statistical Review of World Energy. (n.d.). https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics.html
Czaja, S. (1997). Teoriopoznawcze i metodologiczne konsekwencje wprowadzenia prawa entropii do teorii ekonomii. Wydawnictwo AE. (in Polish).
Dale, M., Krumdieck, S., & Bodger, P. (2012). Global energy modelling — A biophysical approach (GEMBA) part 1: An overview of biophysical economics. Ecological Economics, 73, 152-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2011.10.014
Daly, H. E. (1996). Beyond growth: The economics of sustainable development. Beacon Press.
Eurostat. (n.d.). https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/main/data/database
Filippini, M., & Srinivasan, S. (2024). An introduction to energy economics and policy. Cambridge University Press.
Flórez-Orrego, D., Henriques, I. B., Nguyen, T.-V., da Silva, J. A. M., Keutenedjian Mady, C. E., Pellegrini, L. F., Gandolfi, R., Velásquez, H. I., Burbano, J. C., Lattouf, R., & de Oliveira Junior, S. (2018). The contribution of Prof. Jan Szargut to the exergy and environmental assessment of complex energy systems. Energy, 161, 482–492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2018.07.150
Georgescu-Roegen, N. (1971). The entropy law and the economic process. Harvard University Press. https://content.csbs.utah.edu/~lozada/Adv_Resource_Econ/En_Law_Econ_Proc_Cropped_Optimized_Clearscan.pdf
Hall, C. A. S., & Klitgaard, K. (2018). Energy and the wealth of nations: An introduction to biophysical economics (2nd ed.). Springer.
Jevons, W. S. (1865). The coal question: An inquiry concerning the progress of the nation, and probable exhaustion of our coal mines. Macmillan.
Keppler, J. H. (2019). The costs of decarbonisation: System costs with high shares of nuclear and renewables. Nuclear Energy Agency.
Marks, K. (2013). Kapitał. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN. (in Polish).
Odum, H. T. (1996). Environmental accounting: Emergy and environmental decision making. Wiley.
Our World in Data. (n.d.). https://ourworldindata.org/data
Poskrobko, B. (2013). Paradygmat zrównoważonego rozwoju jako wiodący kanon w badaniu nowych obszarów ekonomii. Ekonomia i Środowisko, 46(3), 10-24. (in Polish).
Roose, B., Tennyson, E. M., Meheretu, G., Kassaw, A., Tilahun, S. A., Allen, L., & Stranks, S. D. (2022). Local manufacturing of perovskite solar cells, a game-changer for low- and lower-middle income countries? Energy & Environmental Science, 15(9), 3571–3582. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2EE01343F
Rosenfeld, A. H., Kaarsberg, T. M., & Romm, J. J. (2001). Efficiency of energy use. In J. Zumerchik (Ed.), Macmillan encyclopedia of energy. Macmillan Reference USA.
Schumacher, E. F. (1973). Small is beautiful: A study of economics as if people mattered. Blond & Briggs.
Smil, V. (2022). Energia i cywilizacja: Tak tworzy się historia. Helion. (in Polish).
Smith, A. (1954). Badania nad naturą i przyczynami bogactwa narodów. Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe. (in Polish).
Soddy, F. (1926). Wealth, virtual wealth and debt. Dutton.
Soddy, F. (1934). The role of money. George Routledge and Sons.
Stern, N. (2006). Stern review: The economics of climate change.
Szargut, J. (1996). Exergy analysis of thermal processes. Journal of Power Technologies, 84.
Topcu, E., Altinoz, B., & Aslan, A. (2020). Global evidence from the link between economic growth, natural resources, energy consumption, and gross capital formation. Resources Policy, 66, 101622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2020.101622
Veblen, T. (1899). The theory of the leisure class: An economic study in the evolution of institutions. Macmillan.
White, L. A. (1943). Energy and the evolution of culture. American Anthropologist, 45(3), 335–356. https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.1943.45.3.02a00010
World Bank. (n.d.). https://data.worldbank.org/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Economics and Environment