Scaling Kardashev
Measurement maladies (Part 2)
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In a previous essay, we examined some challenges with measuring human advancement and discussed the merits and drawbacks of standard metrics like the Gross Domestic Product and the Human Development Index. Counterintuitively, I concluded that GDP, specifically GDP per capita, is still the best metric for measuring growth and what we call “progress.” Even GDP, however, may fail to capture the scope and breadth of progress over centuries or more. Here, we explore metrics rooted more in fundamental physics with a focus on energy consumption.