Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, a measure of average living standards, is a classic example of a variable with a 'hockey stick' trajectory. For most of human history, average incomes remained low and stagnant. However, beginning around the 18th century in some countries, GDP per capita began a sharp, sustained upward climb, a trend that defines modern economic growth.

'Hockey Stick' Trajectory in GDP Per Capita

The growth of the global human population also follows a 'hockey stick' pattern. For thousands of years, population growth was extremely slow. Around the 19th century, coinciding with advances in medicine, sanitation, and food production, the world's population began to increase at an unprecedented and exponential rate, creating the characteristic sharp upward turn of the hockey stick.

'Hockey Stick' Trajectory in Global Population

Environmental data, such as the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), also displays a 'hockey stick' trajectory. For centuries, CO2 levels remained relatively stable. With the onset of the Industrial Revolution and the widespread burning of fossil fuels, atmospheric CO2 concentrations began to rise sharply and have continued to accelerate, mirroring the pattern of industrial economic growth.

'Hockey Stick' Trajectory in Atmospheric CO2

Several key global indicators demonstrate a 'hockey stick' trajectory, characterized by a long period of stagnation followed by a sudden and dramatic increase. Notable examples include global GDP per capita, world population, atmospheric CO2 concentrations, energy consumption, and the speed of information transmission. This pattern is often associated with the onset of the Industrial Revolution and the subsequent period of rapid technological and economic change.

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To cite the ebook, use The CORE Econ Team 2023 The Economy 2.0: Microeconomics Open access e-text https://core-econ.org/the-economy/.

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