Trends in the intensity of copper use in Japan since 1960 |
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| Institution: | 1. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Centro de Minería, Escuela de Ingeniería, Santiago, chile;2. Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan;3. Division of Economics and Business, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA;1. Leibniz University Hannover, Institute for Environmental Economics and World Trade, 30167 Hannover, Germany;2. University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany;3. Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, Center for Economics of Materials CEM, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany;2. School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile;3. Instituto de Economía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile;1. Fraunhofer-Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, Karlsruhe, Germany;2. Institute of Mineral and Waste Processing, Waste Disposal and Geomechanics, Clausthal University of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany;3. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China;4. College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China;1. Industrial Ecology Programme, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, NTNU, 7491 Trondheim, Norway;2. Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, 2300AA Leiden, The Netherlands;3. PNO consultants, Den Haag, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | Between 1960 and 2000, Japan's real GDP grew 620%. However, its consumption of copper increased only 345%, thanks to a 38% decline in the country's intensity of copper use. In light of concerns today over the possible impact of future economic development in China, India, and other developing countries on the long-run availability of mineral resources, this study proposes to explore the causes for this dramatic decline in the Japanese intensity of copper use.For some time, we have known that the intensity of metal use within a country depends on its level of economic development, usually measured by per capita income, as well as on technological change, long-run price trends, and other factors whose influence varies, more or less, with time. This study finds that rising per capita income has increased the intensity of copper use in Japan over the entire period examined. Moreover, this positive effect is expected to continue until per capita income—$44,830 in 2000—reaches $53,000. Thereafter, further advances will tend to reduce the intensity of copper use. Conversely, new copper-saving technologies and other time-related variables have on average reduced the intensity of copper use by 2.9% a year, an amount sufficient not only to offset the positive effects of growing per capita income but also to reduce intensity of use by 38%. |
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