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Tog's Paradox

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187 points adzicg | 2 comments | 22 Oct 24 12:05 UTC | HN request time: 0.406s | source
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silvestrov ◴[22 Oct 24 17:10 UTC] No.41916380[source]▶
It is somewhat similar to Jevons paradox: when technological progress increases the efficiency with which a resource is used, but the falling cost of use induces increases in demand enough that resource use is increased, rather than reduced

E.g. People who purchase cars with Improved Fuel Economy ends up driving so much more that they end up using even more fuel than they would have with a less efficient car.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox

replies(1): >>41917593 #
1. Eisenstein ◴[22 Oct 24 19:10 UTC] No.41917593[source]▶
That 'paradox' is pretty much just basic economics when dealing with an elastic product, though. 'When efficiency gains reduce the price of a good that people would buy more of if it were cheaper, consumption of that good will rise'.
replies(1): >>41917687 #
2. eesmith ◴[22 Oct 24 19:18 UTC] No.41917687[source]▶
Yes, and the provided Wikipedia link goes into detail about the mechanisms behind the rebound effect.