The background paper extends the analysis of energy use into new areas by explicitly looking at how energy use has changed with the expansion of the service sector, the explosion of international trade, and greater complexity of the U.S. economy as the structure of businesses changed in response to new technologies and competitive challenges. The increasing sophistication of the U.S. economy means that the role of energy is less likely to be directly identified and is instead more likely to be an indirect factor that was added many steps before in the complex network that connects producer to consumer. This …
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The background paper extends the analysis of energy use into new areas by explicitly looking at how energy use has changed with the expansion of the service sector, the explosion of international trade, and greater complexity of the U.S. economy as the structure of businesses changed in response to new technologies and competitive challenges. The increasing sophistication of the U.S. economy means that the role of energy is less likely to be directly identified and is instead more likely to be an indirect factor that was added many steps before in the complex network that connects producer to consumer. This report explicitly separates direct from indirect energy use.
This report is part of the following collection of related materials.
Office of Technology Assessment
The Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) operated from 1972 to 1995, providing Congressional members and committees with analyses of the scientific and technological issues that were increasingly relevant to public policy and legislative action. This collection includes quarterly and annual reports, as well as internal OTA documents such as orientation materials. Many other interesting OTA materials are available in the OTA Legacy Collection via the CyberCemetery.
United States. Congress. Office of Technology Assessment.Energy Use and the U.S. Economy,
report,
June 1990;
[Washington D.C.].
(https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc39656/:
accessed January 18, 2026),
University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu;
crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.