I’m posting a link to a video of right wing economist Jeff Rubin, a Canadian who has an excellent record of predicting economic trends and author of the book: Why Your World Is About To Get A Whole Lot Smaller.
Here he is giving a speech about how he believes in many respects the economies and environments of first world nations could be enhanced by Peak Oil. It is quite interesting as it is a very different take from the majority of doomsday rhetoric you hear about Peak Oil, I’m quite inclined to agree with most of what he says to a certain extent, he does seem to view the transition as a neutral or even positive event. If correct, it will mean a radical change to many parts of Auckland and Auckland will have to accommodate industries we thought gone forever such as large manufacturing and repair sectors.
While the video is 45 minutes long, the speech is just over 30 minutes, with 15 minutes of questions (during which he talks about the growing importance of transit) and well worth a watch.
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Imagine this happening in Auckland… treating cyclists and pedestrians the same as motorists…
Feds Deem Pedestrians, Cyclists and Motorists Equals
By Jason Kambitsis March 19, 2010 | 12:48 pm | Categories: Infrastructure
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/03/lahood-policy-statement/
Really interesting post thanks. I’m not sure about his assertions that the recent financial crisis and recession were due to high oil costs but I’m surprised that he’s the first person I’ve heard talking seriously about that.
I’ve heard quite a few people talk about the link between the oil spike and the recession. The recession was most probably caused by a number of factors – but certainly I think one of them would be the high oil prices.
We’ve certainly seen this before – the 1973 and 1980 oil spikes both led to recessions. Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990 spiked oil prices, and then a worldwide recession happened not long after that.
Our home business was really affected by the Economic recession, we have to cut jobs just to cover up our losses. fortunately, we have already recovered. `
“that the recent financial crisis and recession were due to high oil costs”
Oh, I wouldn’t say so either – the tipping thing was credit shambles after all. But high oil prices didn’t help, and have likely made it somewhat worse.
@Elizabeth, I’m glad to hear that but please keep in mind a recent report by the US Department of (either Energy or Transport, I can’t remember at the moment) stated that volitile oil prices are a signal of peak “cheap” oil, given the absolute link between increased energy use and increased GDP if oil prices lurch between high and low and the economy lurches between recession and recovery you will know why…