Energy, transport, and consumption in the Industrial Revolution.
Tainter, Joseph A;Taylor, Temis G;
the behavioral and brain sciences2019Vol. 42pp. e209
288
tainter2019energythe
Abstract
We question Baumard's underlying assumption that humans have a propensity to innovate. Affordable transportation and energy underpinned the Industrial Revolution, making mass production/consumption possible. Although we cannot accept Baumard's thesis on the Industrial Revolution, it may help explain why complexity and innovation increase rapidly in the context of abundant energy.