A newly introduced idea, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aims to streamline the U.S. government’s operations, promising enhanced effectiveness. However, 19th-century British economist William Stanley Jevons offers a cautionary perspective: making a process more efficient often leads to increased usage rather than reduced consumption.
Jevons raised his concerns in an 1865 analysis, highlighting the British Empire’s heavy reliance on coal. He warned that while coal was affordable at the time, a future rise in its cost could strain the empire’s military and industrial dominance. His prediction was met with skepticism by his contemporaries, who believed advancing efficiency in coal engines would solve the issue.
Jevons’ paradox warns of unintended consequences in the pursuit of efficiency
Contrary to the prevailing view, Jevons argued that greater efficiency would only encourage higher coal consumption. While individuals or businesses might reduce usage, the overall demand across the empire would increase, making efficiency a double-edged sword.
Over the decades, Jevons’ paradox has been observed across various fields. Energy-efficient appliances, for instance, are often used more frequently, leading to higher electricity consumption. Similarly, fuel-efficient vehicles tend to be driven longer distances, while innovations like genetically modified crops enable more intensive agricultural practices. Efficiency often backfires, creating greater demand rather than curbing it.
At its core, efficiency may inadvertently bind us to outdated systems. In Jevons’ time, improved coal efficiency reinforced fossil fuels as the backbone of industrial capitalism. Today, efficiency is frequently pursued as a solution to issues like climate change or gender inequity in household labor, but it rarely addresses the deeper systemic flaws.
Efficiency also shapes the broader economic and cultural frameworks within which we operate. For example, coal remains affordable in places like Indiana because many of its environmental and health costs are borne by others. This highlights how efficiency often shifts burdens rather than eliminating them.
Jevons himself was not opposed to technology or progress; his critiques were rooted in preserving British imperial power. Yet his observations remind us to consider what we truly value. For DOGE, efforts to cut government spending might unintentionally increase costs elsewhere, such as through legal battles or environmental degradation.
The pursuit of efficiency challenges us to reflect on what work we prioritize and who benefits. While minimizing expenses is a worthy goal, it is essential to ensure that such efforts do not lead to hidden costs for society as a whole.
