Jeven's Paradox, as elucidated by Nate Hagens, refers to the counterintuitive economic principle where an increase in the efficiency with which a resource is used leads to an overall increase in its consumption rather than a decrease. Hagens explains that while improving the efficiency of a resource, such as energy or raw materials, is intended to conserve it, this increased efficiency often reduces the cost associated with its use. Consequently, the lower cost can drive up the demand, ultimately resulting in higher total consumption of the resource. This paradox underlines the complex interplay between technological advancements and economic behavior, challenging the simplistic notion that efficiency alone can lead to sustainable resource use.

See also: exponential growth, ecological economics, fossil fuel, population growth, planetary boundary