Energy, productivity and structural growth. The last two centuries

Our knowledge of energy consumption over the past two centuries is still superficial. The available energy databases cover, at best, the years from the 1960s. Furthermore, we know little on the consumption of traditional sources; still in use in developing countries. The consequence is that the modern "energy transition" and its impact on the economy is still poorly known. The purpose of the present contribution is twofold. It aims at: 1. filling this gap, through the analysis of the main transformations which have occurred since 1820 in global energy consumption; 2. focusing on the changes in the relative energy GDP developments due to the exploitation of fossil energy sources on the one hand and energy-saving technology on the other. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.