Limits to growth

The sequential growth and branching involved in the preparation of dendrimers had been considered by Flory many years before they were actually prepared. Flory developed a sound understanding of the kind of processes that would occur in the self-polymerization of a molecule of the type ABj most of which have been shown to be correct by the relatively recent experimental studies. In particular, the existence of a limit to growth was predicted. This limit has become known as the starburst limit, and is the reason for the highly monodisperse nature of fully developed dendrimers. 

Meadows, D.H., Meadows, D.L., Randers, J., Behrens, W.W. (1972) The Limits to Growth. A report for the Club of Rome s Project on the predicament of mankind. Universe Books, New York. 

Because nitrogenous compounds are readily metabolized or transported within the plant, It would seem that the major constraint on use of nitrogen In chemical defense Is Its effectiveness and the pattern of Its availability In the habitat. If nitrogen Is the major factor limiting to growth,... 

Smith, E. and Marsden, T. 2003. Exploring the Limits to Growth in UK Organics Beyond the Statistical Image. The Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society, Cardiff University, Cardiff. 

The publication of the report Limits to Growth (4) by the Club of Rome had a major impact on thinking about the environmental impact of our cultural development. Under the assumption that the five basis elements of this study— population, the production of food, industrialization, pollution, and the use of nonrenewable resources—will keep increasing exponentially, they showed that, if unchanged, this would lead to enormous problems, as soon as the 21st century. The social consciousness of the problems caused by unlimited growth of these elements was greatly increased by this report by the Club of Rome. 

Meadows DH, et al. The Limits to Growth. New York Universe Books, 1972. 

Pomeroy, L. R., J. E. Sheldon, W. M. J. Sheldon, and F. Peters. 1995. Limits to growth and respiration of bacterioplankton in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine Ecology Progress Series 117 259-268. 

Hirsch, F. Soda Limits to Growth. Cambridge, Mass. Harvard University Press... 

Club of Rome publishes Limits to Growth. The report is extremely controversial because it predicts dire consequences if growth is not slowed. Northern countries criticize the report for not including technological solutions while Southern countries are incensed because it advocates abandonment of economic development. 

OPEC oil crisis fuels limits to growth debate. 

Latin American World Model developed by the Fundacio Bariloche presented at the Second HAS A Symposium on Global Modelling. It is the South s response to Limits to Growth and calls for growth and equity for the Third World. 

I conclude this chapter by considering how the three basic themes of this book—barriers to entry, strategic boundaries, and limits to growth—relate to the evolution of the six multisectored core chemical companies that created the U.S. chemical industry in the first decades of the twentieth century. 

Before reviewing their achievements, a word is needed on the troubled Hercules and failed Witco. Hercules s misfortunes resulted from its delay in redefining its strategic boundaries after it encountered limits to growth. In 1977, around the same time that Dow had massively redefined its strategic boundaries, Hercules s management reached similar conclusions. But unlike Dow, Hercules remained committed to petrochemical and chemical commodities. By the time a new CEO took the company out of petrochemicals in 1987, it was too late. 

As before, I conclude this chapter by relating the evolving paths of learning of the four companies under discussion to the book s three basic themes— barriers to entry, defining strategic boundaries, and limits to growth. 

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