The Second Law of Economics: Energy, Entropy, and the Origins of Wealth

296 Pages·2011·3.56 MB·english

by  Reiner Kümmel (auth.)

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Series Editors:
A.C.Elitzur L.Mersini-Houghton M.A.Schlosshauer M.P.Silverman
J.A.Tuszynski R.Vaas H.D.Zeh
The books in this collection are devoted to challenging and open problems at the forefront
of modern science, including related philosophical debates. In contrast to typical research
monographs, however, they strive to present their topics in a manner accessible also to
scientifically literate non-specialists wishing to gain insight into the deeper implications and
fascinatingquestionsinvolved.Takenasawhole,theseriesreflectstheneedforafundamental
and interdisciplinary approach to modern science. Furthermore, it is intended to encourage
activescientistsinallareastoponderoverimportantandperhaps controversialissuesbeyond
theirownspeciality.Extendingfromquantumphysicsandrelativitytoentropy,consciousness
andcomplexsystems–theFrontiersCollectionwillinspirereaderstopushbackthefrontiersof
theirownknowledge.
Forfurthervolumes:
http://www.springer.com/series/5342
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ReinerKu¨mmel
InstituteforTheoreticalPhysicsandAstrophysics
UniversityofWu¨rzburg
AmHubland
97074Wu¨rzburg
Germany
[email protected]
SeriesEditors:
AvshalomC.Elitzur
Bar-IlanUniversity,UnitofInterdisciplinaryStudies,52900Ramat-Gan,Israel
email:[email protected]
LauraMersini-Houghton
Dept.Physics,UniversityofNorthCarolina,ChapelHill,NC27599-3255,USA
email:[email protected]
MaximilianA.Schlosshauer
NielsBohrInstitute,Blegdamsvej17,2100Copenhagen,Denmark
email:[email protected]
MarkP.Silverman
TrinityCollege,Dept.Physics,HartfordCT06106,USA
email:[email protected]
JackA.Tuszynski
UniversityofAlberta,Dept.Physics,EdmontonABT6G1Z2,Canada
email:[email protected]
Ru¨digerVaas
UniversityofGiessen,CenterforPhilosophyandFoundationsofScience,35394Giessen,Germany
email:[email protected]
H.DieterZeh
GaibergerStraße38,69151Waldhilsbach,Germany
email:[email protected]
ISSN1612-3018
ISBN978-1-4419-9364-9 e-ISBN978-1-4419-9365-6
DOI10.1007/978-1-4419-9365-6
SpringerNewYorkDordrechtHeidelbergLondon
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2011929864
(cid:2)c SpringerScience+BusinessMedia,LLC2011
Allrightsreserved.Thisworkmaynotbetranslatedorcopiedinwholeorinpartwithoutthewritten
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orbysimilarordissimilarmethodologynowknownorhereafterdevelopedisforbidden.
Theuseinthispublicationoftradenames,trademarks,servicemarks,andsimilarterms,eveniftheyare
notidentifiedassuch,isnottobetakenasanexpressionofopinionastowhetherornottheyaresubject
toproprietaryrights.
Coverdesign:KuenkelLopkaGmbH,Heidelberg
Printedonacid-freepaper
SpringerispartofSpringerScience+BusinessMedia(www.springer.com)
Anditwas theamountofenergya single
humancouldproducethatdictated
militarypotential,standardofliving,
happiness,andallbesides.
IsaacAsimov,TheNaked Sun,1956

To
Christaand Stephan,
Lukas, Florian,Franziska,andJakob

Foreword
Physicistscontributeinvariousfieldsofsciencesforabetterunderstandingofour
world. This is linked to the type of education they have to undergo. During their
studies they are trained to solve problems, rather difficult and tricky problems in
manycases.Theyliketodothat,otherwisetheywouldhavechosenthewrongfield
for themselves. With this attitude in mind, they have made numerous significant
contributionsto such differentfields as chemistry, biology, medicine, and what is
of particular interest here, economics. Since physicists are used to working with
equations,whichrepresenttheirideasinatransparent,logical,andconsistentframe;
theywillnaturallycarryoverthatattitudetootherfieldsinwhichtheyareworking.
Thisdistinguishesthemfromthosescientistswhoexpresstheirideassolelyinwords
anddescriptions.
The author of this volume, Reiner Ku¨mmel, is a physicist in the best sense.
He received excellent training at world-renowneduniversities and despite consid-
erable scientific success in a special field of physics, namely, superconductivity,
he remained a generalist. What started as a hobby, namely, the study of the laws
and driving forces of economics, rather soon became a serious occupation and a
newbranchofinterdisciplinarywork.Hispersonalexperiences,whichhegainedin
differentparts of the world, made him realize what former President Bill Clinton
usedasthe1992campaigncatchphrase:“It’stheeconomy,stupid!”
After his studies in Germany Reiner Ku¨mmel spent his postdoctoral years in
Urbana(Illinois)asanassistantofJohnBardeen,oneofthetruegiantsofscience.
In the USA he experienced the prosperity and wealth of the world’s leading
economicpower.Afewyearslater,hebecameacquaintedwiththelifeandstruggle,
ofthe peoplein Colombia,whereheservedforthreeyearsbuildingupa master’s
programattheUniversidaddelValleinCaliinthespiritofKennedy’sPeaceCorps.
ThehugedifferenceinlivingconditionsbetweentheUSAandGermany,ontheone
hand,andColombia,ontheother,togetherwithhisdeterminationtodosomethingto
improvethelivesofpeople,providedthebackgroundforhisincreasingengagement
ineconomics.Herealizedrathersoonthatasawell-trainedphysicisthecouldmake
animportantcontributiontothatfield.
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