Public and Private Goods: Social and Policy Implications
In a previous related posts, I wrote about how digital content and services can be considered “misbehaving economic goods” because most don’t conform to the standard product that is individually owned and consumed in its entirety. In this post, I expand that analysis to a wider continuum of different types of public and private goods. […]
Remote Sensing Technologies for Disaster Risk Reduction
Sensing technologies can provide valuable information about potential hazards, assessing their impact, and supporting response and recovery efforts. This information can support decision-makers and emergency responders before, during, and after disasters. By providing high-resolution maps and imagery (either real-time or archived for analysis over time) they can identify vulnerable areas and monitor changes in the environment, such as changes in land use, crop health, deforestation, and urbanization.
Zeihan’s Global Prognostics and Sustainable Development, Part II: Implications of Tesla’s Master Plan 3
Tesla’s Investor Day presentation broadly sketched a vision for a sustainable energy economy and how the company would contribute to that plan. However, Peter Zeihan’s work suggests a tougher road ahead with limited premium locations for solar and wind. Furthermore, a deglobalization trend and geopolitical conflict threaten access to critical resources needed for the green revolution.
Technostructural Stages of Global ICT for Development (ICT4D)
This post explores and outlines the following stages or phases of economic and social development utilizing information and communications technologies. The ICT acronym has emerged as a popular moniker, especially in international usage, for the digital technology revolution and is often combined with “development” to form ICT4D.
ICT4D and Digital Development in a Changing World
This year, 2022, marks the halfway point for the Agenda for Sustainable Development, aimed for completion by 2030. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a serious threat to the material flows needed for renewable energies, as well as global climate and food security. Digital technologies may not be spared as well.
Zeihan’s Global Prognostics and Sustainable Development, Part I
This post looks at Zeihan’s hypotheses and their implications for sustainable development, roughly defined by the United Nations Brundtland Commission as meeting the needs of the present, without compromising future generations. While one might say that all countries in the world are undergoing a transition to sustainable development, countries have different circumstances and develop development and economic policies and solutions differently.
MMT in a Post-Covid-19 Environment
We hear the term “printing money” a lot, usually by gold or bitcoin enthusiasts who believe in establishing strict financial constraints. By establishing “hard money” and limiting the quantity of money in an economy, they hope to see their assets rise in value while keeping prices down. Certainly, governments do print some of their money for public use, but the preponderance of funds are entries in digital ledger accounts.
Wireless Charging Infrastructure for EVs: Snack and Sell?
The strategy behind wireless charging will probably focus more on what WiTricity has coined “power snacking” than full meals. Snacking is actually better for your battery. The snacking can be done by a waiting taxi, a bus stopping for a queue of passengers, and perhaps cars waiting at a red light. Shopping centers are likely locations to “capture” customers with charging stalls, especially if they have their own micro-grids with solar panels on the roof. Infrastructure has been tested to charge these cars while even in motion.
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