A radical, ecologically minded proposal to meet the future challenges of an increasingly productive but still unsustainable economy.
Debate about the global economy tends to splinter into those who champion growth and those who advocate environmental sustainability. However, debut author Bentz argues that continued prosperity and technological innovation are compatible with diminished consumption. The chief problem, as the author articulates it, is that an economic paradigm premised upon perennial overconsumption eventually leads to the depletion of resources, pollution, an uneven distribution of wealth, and even unemployment as increased productivity and automation eliminates jobs. The solution is a form of resource rationing—a globally imposed lower growth rate that takes into account the current high-production capacity, relatively high overall employment, and a system that assigns value to both capital accumulation and resource scarcity. The book comprises four parts: overconsumption, unemployment, distribution, and external costs. Our economy both produces and consumes too much and is less efficient and robust when assessed from the perspective of a proper metric (Bentz furnishes a notable critique of GDP as a barometer). Unemployment can be addressed by replacing a capital-centric economy with one that focuses on labor; one of the best and most original contributions of the book is the discussion of dual time-based currencies that allows for a more efficient delivery of work for basic goods. Also, a fairer distribution of goods directed by the government needn’t be inefficient: “We can conclude that although a centrally planned economy is not a good idea, the universal distribution of a few essential commodities such as food, shelter, and healthcare can make an otherwise free market economy much more efficient.” Bentz’s solutions are aggressively reformist but also offered in a spirit of conciliation; he argues that the goal is not to eliminate capitalism, but to chasten its worst excesses. The writing is mercifully lucid considering the technical subject matter, though the running reliance upon Hamlet’s famous Act III monologue—Bentz keeps reformulating the speech to illustrate his principal points—is unhelpful and contrived. Overall, though, the book is a rarity: a legitimately fresh but also politically moderate position that reorients the very terms of the conversation.
An original take on the economics of resource conservation.
--Kirkus Reviews
With its thoughtful and complex examinations of design and overconsumption, this book offers potential solutions to looming global problems.
How can we simultaneously boost the world’s wealth and reduce consumption? The short answer is that we can improve the quality of what we produce through better design. This is the focus of Herb Bentz’s well-researched Rationing Earth: Economic Strategy by Design.
Rationing Earth is divided into four parts: “Overconsumption,” “Unemployment,” “Distribution,” and “External Costs.” Each addresses a specific economic problem and its relationship to prosperity and consumption. Subheads are used to help further organize the sections. Bentz uses statistics, historical perspectives, and the research of others to make his argument that design evolves out of necessity and is directly tied to the state of the economy.
Because better-designed products rely on efficient technology and use of sustainable materials, Bentz argues they are more durable, more useful, and more beautiful. While design is key, consumers must also learn to use less and to appreciate higher-quality products that are built to last.
The cost of overconsumption is hefty, but Bentz’s overarching message is that consumption and prosperity are not mutually exclusive. Reducing consumption will not reduce prosperity. Designing better products and being more responsible consumers will ensure that “wealth defined by our satisfaction can increase indefinitely.”
Bentz’s background as an industrial designer and founding partner of Form3 Design, a Vancouver-based company committed to ecologically sustainable product design, factors in. He clearly states Rationing Earth’s objective and makes a compelling argument that expert design is the best way to reduce consumption. To ensure that his message is not lost or forgotten, he continuously restates his objective throughout the book, and expertly connects his research to his points using a strong and passionate tone.
Parts of Hamlet’s suicide-contemplation speech are used to introduce each of the book’s four parts, and Bentz provides thought-provoking modern interpretations of those excerpts. This unique approach demonstrates the timelessness of the book’s issues.
Rationing Earth is not exactly light reading. It’s an interesting, research-based look at the state of the global economy and the environment, and the social and cultural issues that affect the world. The extensive use of footnotes, data, charts, and graphs sometimes distracts from the message. While the book is well written, the structure and writing style are academic, resembling a textbook and perhaps limiting its accessibility.
This book offers a thoughtful and complex look at overconsumption, the economy, and environmental factors, and how design can impact these issues. Rationing Earth presents extensive research to support its arguments and offers potential solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems.
--Forward Clarion Reviews
This is a dense, serious examination of economics and sustainability that posits that prosperity does not have to be dependent upon growth and ever increasing consumption. The author presents his well structured arguments, supported by historical examples and reference to other works, under four main headings: overconsumption, unemployment, distribution and external costs. He uses “design thinking” to analyse the challenges and develop solutions to unsustainable economic progress that is harming the planet. A two-dimensional currency, “reduce, reuse and repair (rather than recycle)”, shifting carbon tax from the producer to the consumer are some of his radical proposals.
This is a book that demands much of the reader, because of the nature of the content and the density of ideas, theories and history being explored. Frequent extracts from other works and exhaustive footnotes lend an academic tone to the book, and slows the pace, while historic examples are enlightening and reinforce the strength of his argument.
The author writes very well, with a lucidity that makes complicated arguments and concepts clear.
Word choice is varied and apt; language is correct throughout, as is grammar and punctuation. Edited to a consistent style.
The main themes are clearly and linearly presented, but less referencing of other works would not have damaged the impetus of his argument, while more examples understandable to non-economics readers would have been useful.
Very strong, well designed cover with good typography; professional interiors.
This is a professionally written and produced book that makes a strong case for different approaches to managing the world’s economy to increase prosperity and happiness while decreasing consumption and the negative environmental impact of production. (The quotes from Hamlet, which the author cleverly reworks — “For in that consumption what future may come,/When we have gotten rid of all resources,/Must give us pause—” are a contrast to the general tone of the book.)
--Whistler Independent Book Award: Book Evaluation
Debate about the global economy tends to splinter into those who champion growth and those who advocate environmental sustainability. However, debut author Bentz argues that continued prosperity and technological innovation are compatible with diminished consumption. The chief problem, as the author articulates it, is that an economic paradigm premised upon perennial overconsumption eventually leads to the depletion of resources, pollution, an uneven distribution of wealth, and even unemployment as increased productivity and automation eliminates jobs. The solution is a form of resource rationing—a globally imposed lower growth rate that takes into account the current high-production capacity, relatively high overall employment, and a system that assigns value to both capital accumulation and resource scarcity. The book comprises four parts: overconsumption, unemployment, distribution, and external costs. Our economy both produces and consumes too much and is less efficient and robust when assessed from the perspective of a proper metric (Bentz furnishes a notable critique of GDP as a barometer). Unemployment can be addressed by replacing a capital-centric economy with one that focuses on labor; one of the best and most original contributions of the book is the discussion of dual time-based currencies that allows for a more efficient delivery of work for basic goods. Also, a fairer distribution of goods directed by the government needn’t be inefficient: “We can conclude that although a centrally planned economy is not a good idea, the universal distribution of a few essential commodities such as food, shelter, and healthcare can make an otherwise free market economy much more efficient.” Bentz’s solutions are aggressively reformist but also offered in a spirit of conciliation; he argues that the goal is not to eliminate capitalism, but to chasten its worst excesses. The writing is mercifully lucid considering the technical subject matter, though the running reliance upon Hamlet’s famous Act III monologue—Bentz keeps reformulating the speech to illustrate his principal points—is unhelpful and contrived. Overall, though, the book is a rarity: a legitimately fresh but also politically moderate position that reorients the very terms of the conversation.
An original take on the economics of resource conservation.
--Kirkus Reviews
With its thoughtful and complex examinations of design and overconsumption, this book offers potential solutions to looming global problems.
How can we simultaneously boost the world’s wealth and reduce consumption? The short answer is that we can improve the quality of what we produce through better design. This is the focus of Herb Bentz’s well-researched Rationing Earth: Economic Strategy by Design.
Rationing Earth is divided into four parts: “Overconsumption,” “Unemployment,” “Distribution,” and “External Costs.” Each addresses a specific economic problem and its relationship to prosperity and consumption. Subheads are used to help further organize the sections. Bentz uses statistics, historical perspectives, and the research of others to make his argument that design evolves out of necessity and is directly tied to the state of the economy.
Because better-designed products rely on efficient technology and use of sustainable materials, Bentz argues they are more durable, more useful, and more beautiful. While design is key, consumers must also learn to use less and to appreciate higher-quality products that are built to last.
The cost of overconsumption is hefty, but Bentz’s overarching message is that consumption and prosperity are not mutually exclusive. Reducing consumption will not reduce prosperity. Designing better products and being more responsible consumers will ensure that “wealth defined by our satisfaction can increase indefinitely.”
Bentz’s background as an industrial designer and founding partner of Form3 Design, a Vancouver-based company committed to ecologically sustainable product design, factors in. He clearly states Rationing Earth’s objective and makes a compelling argument that expert design is the best way to reduce consumption. To ensure that his message is not lost or forgotten, he continuously restates his objective throughout the book, and expertly connects his research to his points using a strong and passionate tone.
Parts of Hamlet’s suicide-contemplation speech are used to introduce each of the book’s four parts, and Bentz provides thought-provoking modern interpretations of those excerpts. This unique approach demonstrates the timelessness of the book’s issues.
Rationing Earth is not exactly light reading. It’s an interesting, research-based look at the state of the global economy and the environment, and the social and cultural issues that affect the world. The extensive use of footnotes, data, charts, and graphs sometimes distracts from the message. While the book is well written, the structure and writing style are academic, resembling a textbook and perhaps limiting its accessibility.
This book offers a thoughtful and complex look at overconsumption, the economy, and environmental factors, and how design can impact these issues. Rationing Earth presents extensive research to support its arguments and offers potential solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems.
--Forward Clarion Reviews
This is a dense, serious examination of economics and sustainability that posits that prosperity does not have to be dependent upon growth and ever increasing consumption. The author presents his well structured arguments, supported by historical examples and reference to other works, under four main headings: overconsumption, unemployment, distribution and external costs. He uses “design thinking” to analyse the challenges and develop solutions to unsustainable economic progress that is harming the planet. A two-dimensional currency, “reduce, reuse and repair (rather than recycle)”, shifting carbon tax from the producer to the consumer are some of his radical proposals.
This is a book that demands much of the reader, because of the nature of the content and the density of ideas, theories and history being explored. Frequent extracts from other works and exhaustive footnotes lend an academic tone to the book, and slows the pace, while historic examples are enlightening and reinforce the strength of his argument.
The author writes very well, with a lucidity that makes complicated arguments and concepts clear.
Word choice is varied and apt; language is correct throughout, as is grammar and punctuation. Edited to a consistent style.
The main themes are clearly and linearly presented, but less referencing of other works would not have damaged the impetus of his argument, while more examples understandable to non-economics readers would have been useful.
Very strong, well designed cover with good typography; professional interiors.
This is a professionally written and produced book that makes a strong case for different approaches to managing the world’s economy to increase prosperity and happiness while decreasing consumption and the negative environmental impact of production. (The quotes from Hamlet, which the author cleverly reworks — “For in that consumption what future may come,/When we have gotten rid of all resources,/Must give us pause—” are a contrast to the general tone of the book.)
--Whistler Independent Book Award: Book Evaluation