Hello Anthony. Thank you for this informative blog post. I was wondering if you are planning on discussing the role of British colonies is both acting as markets and sources of raw materials for the textile industry in Britain. It would be interesting if you could discuss the impact of the flooding of colonial markets with British textiles on British industrialization.
Hi Soyra, I've discussed the role of colonies quite a few times in previous posts (e.g. most recently https://antonhowes.substack.com/p/age-of-invention-london-the-great), but mostly discussing the earlier period so far: pre-1650s, as I think that's the most important period for British innovation. But I will likely discuss them more in future, yes. I've been doing quite a bit of reading lately on the origins of empire in India - particularly new work by David Veevers.
Hi Anton, new reader. Interesting premise (forgive the pithy summary) - because energy underlies all goods, innovation improvements in energy have larger positive impacts, relatively, because it lowers the price of all goods, etc. enabling people to modify consumption baskets.
Haven't we already had dramatic innovation in energy w/ rise of fracking + directional drilling (ignoring environmental effects)? Do you think that anything has changed as a result that supports your point that innovation in energy is more impactful than innovation elsewhere?
I really enjoyed this post, well discussed on the gains from innovation.
1) How do you know energy innovation from renewables and batteries will be significant enough? What percent decrease will be “enough”? I know you can’t really answer that, but if you could wouldn’t the best option be for the government to immensely fund the technologies to get there? If the downstream innovation benefits would be so great, let’s get there ASAP. Energy innovation since the 1980s has been gradual, but significant (see gas turbines) and new technologies are still basically on par (for now).
2) There is a lot of awesome academic research that basically relies on cheaper electricity, see electrochemistry. I do agree with Noah (and you) in that regard (Jetsons).
3) Any science fiction that you would recommend for interesting energy usage? Always seemed odd to me that Tony Stark changed energy production but only really used it for his suit.
Hello Anthony. Thank you for this informative blog post. I was wondering if you are planning on discussing the role of British colonies is both acting as markets and sources of raw materials for the textile industry in Britain. It would be interesting if you could discuss the impact of the flooding of colonial markets with British textiles on British industrialization.
Hi Soyra, I've discussed the role of colonies quite a few times in previous posts (e.g. most recently https://antonhowes.substack.com/p/age-of-invention-london-the-great), but mostly discussing the earlier period so far: pre-1650s, as I think that's the most important period for British innovation. But I will likely discuss them more in future, yes. I've been doing quite a bit of reading lately on the origins of empire in India - particularly new work by David Veevers.
Hi Anton, new reader. Interesting premise (forgive the pithy summary) - because energy underlies all goods, innovation improvements in energy have larger positive impacts, relatively, because it lowers the price of all goods, etc. enabling people to modify consumption baskets.
Haven't we already had dramatic innovation in energy w/ rise of fracking + directional drilling (ignoring environmental effects)? Do you think that anything has changed as a result that supports your point that innovation in energy is more impactful than innovation elsewhere?
Thanks!
Fracking has really changed the industrial sector. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=35152
I really enjoyed this post, well discussed on the gains from innovation.
1) How do you know energy innovation from renewables and batteries will be significant enough? What percent decrease will be “enough”? I know you can’t really answer that, but if you could wouldn’t the best option be for the government to immensely fund the technologies to get there? If the downstream innovation benefits would be so great, let’s get there ASAP. Energy innovation since the 1980s has been gradual, but significant (see gas turbines) and new technologies are still basically on par (for now).
2) There is a lot of awesome academic research that basically relies on cheaper electricity, see electrochemistry. I do agree with Noah (and you) in that regard (Jetsons).
3) Any science fiction that you would recommend for interesting energy usage? Always seemed odd to me that Tony Stark changed energy production but only really used it for his suit.