Rethinking Growth: How Latin America Missed a Key Idea on Development

A bold but overlooked thinker once shook up economics by comparing the economy to a system that loses energy over time—like a battery running down. His name wasn’t widely recognized at first, but his idea slowly changed how some experts look at progress. Latin America, with its history of questioning traditional economic models, seemed like the perfect place for these new ideas to take root. Yet, despite the region’s tradition of challenging old ways, most economists and policymakers didn’t fully embrace this energy-based view of development.When this idea first arrived, it didn’t spread evenly. Some groups in Latin America’s economic circles barely noticed it. Even within influential organizations focused on regional growth, the concept stayed on the sidelines. The usual focus on growth and industrialization didn’t leave much room for ideas about energy loss or natural limits. Meanwhile, a different conversation was happening in the Amazon, where thinkers saw potential in this new perspective. There, the idea of development tied to energy and fairness in trade started to take shape in a fresh way. Critics might argue that the region’s economic leadership was too comfortable with old habits. Growth was the priority, and questioning it wasn’t always welcome. The gap between the idea’s potential and its actual adoption raises questions: Why did such a powerful concept struggle to find a home in mainstream debates? Was it because the timing wasn’t right, or because the message clashed with powerful interests?