Contact: Marc Airhart
mairhart@jsg.utexas.edu
512-471-2241
University of Texas at Austin

Energy Quality and Economic Recessions

Caption: The worst recessions of the last 65 years were preceded by declines in energy quality for oil, natural gas, and coal. Energy quality is plotted using the energy intensity ratio (EIR) for each fuel. Recessions are indicated by gray bars. In layman's terms, EIR measures how much profit is obtained by energy consumers relative to energy producers.The higher the EIR, the more economic value consumers (including businesses, governments and people) get from their energy.

Credit: Carey King

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