How much further should the affluent world push its material consumption? Does relative dematerialization lead to absolute decline in demand for materials? These and many other questions are discussed and answered in Making the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization.

Over the course of time, the modern world has become dependent on unprecedented flows of materials. Now even the most efficient production processes and the highest practical rates of recycling may not be enough to result in dematerialization rates that would be high enough to negate the rising demand for materials generated by continuing population growth and rising standards of living. This book explores the costs of this dependence and the potential for substantial dematerialization of modern economies.

Making the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization considers the principal materials used throughout history, from wood and stone, through to metals, alloys, plastics and silicon, describing their extraction and production as well as their dominant applications. The evolving productivities of material extraction, processing, synthesis, finishing and distribution, and the energy costs and environmental impact of rising material consumption are examined in detail. The book concludes with an outlook for the future, discussing the prospects for dematerialization and potential constrains on materials.

This interdisciplinary text provides useful perspectives for readers with backgrounds including resource economics, environmental studies, energy analysis, mineral geology, industrial organization, manufacturing and material science.

• We started tracking this book on October 8, 2013.
• This book was $33.20 when we started tracking it.
• The price of this book has changed 200 times in the past 3,846 days.
• The current price of this book is $40.00 last checked 21 hours ago.
• This book is at its lowest price in the past 90 days.
• This lowest price this book has been offered at in the past six months is $37.00.
• This lowest price this book has been offered at in the past year is $32.00.
• The lowest price to date was $14.99 last reached on December 8, 2016.
• This book has been $14.99 one time since we started tracking it.
• The highest price to date was $46.75 last reached on September 4, 2021.
• This book has been $46.75 3 times since we started tracking it.

• Business & MoneyEconomicsEnvironmental Economics
• Science & MathEarth SciencesEnvironmental Science

• Publication Date: October 2, 2013
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 243 Pages
• File Size: 1,360 KB