Comparison of national energy consumption data: some problems. [Risky to use energy/GNP values for different countries]

Book · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7301483

Parent, J D; Linden, H R

Two aggregate indices commonly used in national energy conservation studies are the per capita annual energy consumption and the ratio of energy use to either gross national product (GNP) or gross domestic product (GDP). It has been reported that both of these indices are greater for the U.S. than for some other highly industrialized countries of about the same level of per capita GDP and standard of living. Hence, the USA has been indicted as wasteful. An effort is made in this report to point out the problems faced when comparing national per capita energy consumption and energy consumption/GDP (E/G) levels. In both cases, it can be grossly misleading to consider only aggregate values of the indices without due allowance for the considerable differences in economic structure and in the mix of energy sources used. It is especially difficult, if not impossible, to put E/G values for different countries on a strictly comparable basis, free of imprecision and arbitrariness. Additional major problems include the difficulty in converting GDP data from national currencies to a common unit--the fixed U.S. dollars--in a manner consistent with purchasing-power parities. Further, when national time series of E/G values are compared, differences in inflation rates and changes in exchange rates add to the complications and uncertainties. In this report, data are presented for 14 countries, including the United States, for the period 1971--75. The data include energy consumption as evaluated by three agencies, per capita energy consumption, and national product values according to the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. When GDP values in 1975 U.S. dollars are computed from the various data, quite different values can be obtained, depending on the method used. Hence, considerable doubt is cast upon the whole procedure of computing and comparing national E/G values.

• OSTI ID: 7301483
• Report Number(s): NP-22356
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
298000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Consumption & Utilization
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA COMPILATION
DECISION MAKING
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
NATURAL GAS
PETROLEUM
RESERVES
RESOURCES