Economic growth depends critically on access to reliable energy. However in much of the world, access to energy remains low and supply is often unreliable. At the same time, the world’s energy choices are leading to levels of pollution that are substantially shortening people’s lives and causing climate change. The energy and growth challenge requires identifying solutions to these problems of access to inexpensive and reliable energy, while limiting environmental damage and guarding against disruptive climate change. In this Friedman Forum talk, Michael Greenstone explores key energy trends and outlines both the market and technology forces at play to meet this challenge.

More on this topic

Research Briefs·Nov 11, 2024

Carbon Burden

Lubos Pastor, Robert F. Stambaugh, and Lucian A. Taylor
The US corporate sector’s “carbon burden” (the present value of social costs of its future carbon emissions) is 131% of total corporate equity value; 77% of individual firms have carbon burdens exceeding their market capitalizations.
Topics: Energy & Environment
Podcasts episode·Oct 29, 2024

Economics Meets Ecology: The Huge Costs of Ecosystem Declines

Tess Vigeland and Eyal Frank
Bats are considered a natural pesticide. When they began to die out due to an invasive fungus, farmers turned to chemicals to control pests. The result, as Eyal Frank of the Harris School of Public Policy describes on this episode...
Topics: Energy & Environment
Research Briefs·Sep 27, 2024

Toward an Understanding of the Economics of Prosumers: Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment

John List, Ioannis C. Pragidis, and Michael K. Price
Nudging energy prosumers to conserve via a home energy report reduces their energy consumption, with significant variation across seasons and times of day. This suggests that prosumers both shift their energy use away from peak hours and conserve overall.
Topics: Energy & Environment