Thermodynamics, Entropy, and Economic Flow — Living Systems Economics examination

Eleven questions. Nine of eleven passes, and you can take it again as often as you like.

What does the First Law of thermodynamics imply for economics, according to the module?

Waste can be eliminated entirely by better design Every output requires an input of energy and materials GDP can be created without any physical inputs at all Technology can substitute for energy without any limit, regardless of the specific circumstances involved
What 'loophole' in the Second Law does life exploit?

Waste heat can be recycled forever without any loss Earth is an open system with a steady solar inflow Entropy can be reversed by clever technology The Second Law does not apply to living things
How does the module characterise fossil fuels in thermodynamic terms?

A form of energy that produces no entropic waste Current solar income that is being used sustainably Ancient solar capital spent far faster than it was laid down An effectively inexhaustible geological resource, especially among newcomers to the practice
Why does the module compare the renewable transition to personal financial wisdom?

Lasting prosperity comes from income, not liquidating assets Saving money is always wiser than spending it on anything, particularly when the pressure is highest Investments should be concentrated in one reliable asset Taking on debt is the fastest route to sustained growth
What is Herman Daly's steady-state economy, as the module describes it?

An economy that halts all innovation to hold output perfectly constant, especially among newcomers to the practice An economy that deliberately shrinks its output every single year Constant throughput within regenerative limits, with qualitative development An economy that pursues unlimited growth in material throughput
Which distinction answers the objection that growth is necessary for prosperity?

Growth and development mean exactly the same thing in practice Qualitative development always requires more material throughput, which is the assumption most people start with Only quantitative growth reliably improves human well-being Quantitative growth hits limits; qualitative development does not
What does 'thermodynamic maturation' mean in this module?

More well-being per unit of throughput, on solar income Relying mainly on stored energy reserves Burning fuel faster in order to grow more quickly Producing less of everything, in all circumstances and sectors
What does Jeremy England's 'dissipation-driven adaptation' suggest?

Matter under energy flow organises to dissipate it well Order always decreases when energy flows through matter Life is a violation of the Second Law of thermodynamics Complex systems dissipate energy less well than simple ones
How does a mature forest extract so much useful work from sunlight?

It stores all its energy without using it It avoids decomposition to conserve nutrients It uses each unit of energy once and discards it Energy cascades through many trophic levels
The Kalundborg Symbiosis is an example of which principle?

Centralised energy generation by one company Exporting industrial waste to distant regions Maximising each firm's independent output Cascading waste and energy use between firms
Someone frames the energy transition as a painful sacrifice. What reframe does the module offer?

It is a moral duty regardless of the costs involved It is growing up: living on income, not inheritance It is a temporary hardship until fossil fuels return It is mostly about using less electricity at home