Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Synergetics ((SSSYN,volume 22))

Abstract

This is a qualitative discussion on how the concept of entropy relates to human affairs, in particular to economic processes and systems. The starting point of the discussion is Georgescu-Roegen’s book “The entropy law and the economic process” [1]. Although published a year earlier, Georgescu-Roegen’s book has survived “The Limits to Growth” [2] as a neo-Malthusian argument in the great debate over our future: growth vs. no-growth, high technology vs. appropriate or intermediate technology, centralized vs. decentralized society.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. N. Georgescu-Roegen: The Entropy Law and the Economic Process (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. 1971 )

    Google Scholar 

  2. D. Meadows et al.: The Limits to Growth ( Universe Books, New York 1972 )

    Google Scholar 

  3. J. Rifkin: Entropy - A New World View ( The Viking Press, New York 1980 )

    Google Scholar 

  4. A.M. Weinberg: “Avoiding the Entropy Trap”, Bull, of the Atomic Scientist, Vol. 38, Nr. 8, Oct. 1982, p. 32

    Google Scholar 

  5. D.T. Spreng: “Energieaufwand und Recycling von Aluminiumverpackungen”, Aluminium, 58. Jahrg., No. 10, p. 625 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  6. H.W. Goeller and A.M. Weinberg: “The Age of Substitutability”, Science, Vol. 191, p. 683–689 (1976)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. J. Thoma: “Energy, Entropy and Information” Research Memorandum No. 77-32, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  8. C.F. von Weizsäcker: “Evolution und Entropiewachstum” in Offene Systeme I, Beiträge zur Zeitstruktur von Information, Entropie und Evolution, E. V.Weizsäcker (Ed.), ( Ernst Klett Verlag Stuttgart 1974, p. 200 )

    Google Scholar 

  9. K.W. Deutsch und B. Fritsch: “Ueber Probleme und Methoden der Komplexitätsreduktion zur Informationsverarbeitung für Ueber- lebensstrategien”, Publication Series of the International Institute for Comparative Social Research, WissenschaftsZentrum Berlin, Pr 79 - 1, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  10. S. Bagno: The Angel and the Wheat - Communication Theory and Economics Jonah Publishing Co., New York 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Steven Frautschi: “Entropy in an expanding universe” Science, Vol. 217, No. 4560, p. 593 (1982)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. D.T. Spreng: “On time, information and energy conservation” ORAU/IEA-78-22 (R), Institute for Energy Analysis, Oak Ridge TN (1978)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1984 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Spreng, D.T. (1984). On the Entropy of Economic Systems. In: Frehland, E. (eds) Synergetics — From Microscopic to Macroscopic Order. Springer Series in Synergetics, vol 22. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69540-7_20

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69540-7_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-69542-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-69540-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics