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.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
N. Georgescu-Roegen: The Entropy Law and the Economic Process (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. 1971 )
D. Meadows et al.: The Limits to Growth ( Universe Books, New York 1972 )
J. Rifkin: Entropy - A New World View ( The Viking Press, New York 1980 )
A.M. Weinberg: “Avoiding the Entropy Trap”, Bull, of the Atomic Scientist, Vol. 38, Nr. 8, Oct. 1982, p. 32
D.T. Spreng: “Energieaufwand und Recycling von Aluminiumverpackungen”, Aluminium, 58. Jahrg., No. 10, p. 625 (1982)
H.W. Goeller and A.M. Weinberg: “The Age of Substitutability”, Science, Vol. 191, p. 683–689 (1976)
J. Thoma: “Energy, Entropy and Information” Research Memorandum No. 77-32, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria (1977)
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 )
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
S. Bagno: The Angel and the Wheat - Communication Theory and Economics Jonah Publishing Co., New York 1963.
Steven Frautschi: “Entropy in an expanding universe” Science, Vol. 217, No. 4560, p. 593 (1982)
D.T. Spreng: “On time, information and energy conservation” ORAU/IEA-78-22 (R), Institute for Energy Analysis, Oak Ridge TN (1978)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights 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