I just read a brief comment on Noam Chomsky's blog, about peak oil possibly leading to a better standard of life, since sustainable energy sources may be better for the environment. I was considering this and I came to a bit of a revelation.
The quick movement of commodities between the third world and the first world is central to the high profitability of many companies. Electronics, cheap consumer goods, clothing, etc are often made in third world economies, and then shipped to North America, where they are sold for a large profit. Often the sale prices of these goods are less than the production costs domestically. If transportation costs were to increase, some of the advantages of these offshore production methods would be nullified.
Don't mistake this for some rant against cheap offshore labour. It is a rant against foreign exploitation. The offshore production doesn't help the workers at the Nike factory any (go ahead, ask them), but instead enriches the wealthy domestically. If the goods were produced here due to higher transportation costs, the following would occur:
Just riffin' on the idea. Comments?
Posted by Enki at August 30, 2004 04:08 PM | TrackBackI think the only thing we know for sure is that it would radically change the economy somehow. A lot jobs are actually the result of the logistical demands of moving those goods around.
Also, a big deal in our economy is getting goods all over this huge continent. That would cost a lot more too, with an almost certain negative effect on the economy and very little positive, and nothing to do with other countries.
A real hit would be to food prices. Most of the food Americans eat, even if it is produced in America, is transported vast distances, and often in refridgerated vehicles. A rise in the cost of oil ultimately affects the cost of transporation and the endergy to refridgerate--and will more or less directly translate into higher food prices, something that is cleary NOT good for the economy.
Posted by: Bellman at August 31, 2004 10:02 AMI would figure most manufactured goods are made in large part from petrochemicals, so that also confounds the equation.
Posted by: girlontheleft at August 31, 2004 10:07 PMThere are quite a few reasonable replacements for petroleum based fuels/plastics, including thermal depolymerization, which is now a production technology. See -> http://www.spiritofmaat.com/announce/newoil.htm
Posted by: Enki at September 2, 2004 10:04 PM3760 http://www.texas-hold-em-i.com play texas hold em online here.
Posted by: texas hold em at October 11, 2004 11:04 PM8231 http://www.e-texas-holdem.info
texas holdem
Posted by: texas holdem at October 13, 2004 11:10 PM8294 http://www.e-texas-hold-em.com
texas hold em
Posted by: texas hold em at October 15, 2004 08:59 AM7084 http://www.rapid-debt-consolidation.com
consolidate debt
Posted by: debt consolidation at October 17, 2004 01:05 AM7932 http://www.e-roulette.info
Posted by: roulette at October 18, 2004 03:37 PM2224 online casino games
2655 http://www.i--cialis.net
Offering Cialis with overnight delivery. Also, If your looking for generic cialis this is a good site to visit.
845 jobs online part time jobs work online work online from home work at home work from home online jobs work at home jobs work at home business jobs
Full time jobs dental plan dental
insurance
dental insurance
plan
discount dental
plans
cheap dental
plans
individual dental
plans
303 .Way to poker online.
7223 http://www.e-slots.info slots click here to play
online slots
2352 Kona Coffee Starbucks Coffee Jamaica Blue Mountain
Coffee
coffee maker gourmet coffee green mountain coffee kenya coffee organic coffee specialty coffee folgers coffee coffee brewers costa rica coffee Tullys Coffee Millstone Coffee coffee grinder http://www.coffee-delivered.com
4126 Ttry playing online pokeronline.
Posted by: poker online at November 3, 2004 09:26 PM2890 http://www.e-online-poker.info
online poker
908 http://www.top-online-poker.info
poker online
6453 http://top-online-poker.info
poker online
3050 http://www.real-online-poker.net
poker online
Posted by: online poker at November 7, 2004 08:37 PMBuy Generic Wellbutrin cheap now
at http://www.wellbutrin-online.org
2767
directv
direct tv directv satellite direct tv satellite directv dvr direct tv dvr direct tv tivo directv tivo directway
direcway
directway internet directway satellite direcway internet direcway internet free hbo free cinemax free dvd player satellite radio http://www.satellitetvboutique.com
directv
direct tv
directv satellite direct tv satellite directv dvr direct tv dvr direct tv tivo directv tivo directway
direcway
directway internet directway satellite direcway internet direcway internet free hbo free cinemax free dvd player satellite radio http://satellite-tv.cjb.net
8086 http://www.all-texas-holdem.info
texas holdem poker
5248 http://www.all-texas-holdem.info
texas holdem poker
online gambling
online poker
texas holdem
party poker
poker games
online sportsbook betting