1. See also

2. References

Social or socioeconomic metabolism is also described as "the self-reproduction and evolution of the biophysical structures of human society. It comprises those biophysical transformation processes, distribution processes, and flows, which are controlled by humans for their purposes. The biophysical structures of society (‘in use stocks’) and socioeconomic metabolism together form the biophysical basis of society."

Social metabolic processes begin with the human appropriation of materials and energy from nature. These can be transformed and circulated to be consumed and excreted finally back to Nature itself. Each of these processes has a different environmental impact depending on how it is performed, the amount of materials and energy involved in the process, the area where it occurs, the time available or the Nature's regenerative capacity.^[1][2]

Social metabolism represents an extension of the metabolism concept from human bodies to the biophysical basis of society. Humans build and operate mines and farms, oil refineries and power stations, factories and infrastructure to supply the energy and material flows needed for the physical reproduction of a specific culture. In-use stocks, which comprise buildings, vehicles, appliances, infrastructure, etc., are built up and maintained by the different industrial processes that are part of social metabolism. These stocks then provide service to people in form of shelter, transportation, or communication.

Society and its metabolism together form an autopoietic system, a complex system that reproduces itself. Neither culture nor social metabolism can reproduce themselves in isolation. Humans need food and shelter, which is delivered by social metabolism, and the latter needs humans to operate it.

Studies of social metabolism can be carried out at different levels of system aggregation, see material flow analysis. In material flow accounting, for example, the inputs and outputs of materials and energy of a particular state or region, as well as imports and exports, are analysed. Such studies are facilitated by the ease of access to information about commercial transactions.^[4][5]

Social or socioeconomic metabolism stipulates that human society and its interaction with Nature form a complex self-reproducing system, and it can therefore be seen as paradigm for studying the biophysical basis of human societies under the aspect of self-reproduction. "A common paradigm can facilitate model combination and integration, which can lead to more robust and comprehensive interdisciplinary assessments of sustainable development strategies. ... The use of social or socioeconomic metabolism as paradigm can help to justify alternative economic concepts."^[6]

See also

• Agroecology
• Anthropogenic metabolism
• Balance of nature
• Circular economy
• Dematerialization (economics)
• Ecological economics
• Ecological footprint
• Energy crisis
• Energy economics
• Energy returned on energy invested
• Global hectare
• Industrial metabolism
• Land (economics)
• Material flow analysis
• Metabolic rift
• MuSIASEM
• Natural resource economics
• Urban metabolism
• Water footprint

References

• The Coral Windows Stadium
• The Coram Hotel
• The Corbet School
• The Corcoran School (Georgetown)
• The Cordells
• The Cordon
• The Cordova Post Office and Courthouse
• The core ideology of socialism
• The Corellian trilogy
• The Corelli International Academic School of the Arts
• The Core (novel)
• The Core of the Sun
• The Corina language
• The Corina language (disambiguation)
• The Cork Museum
• The Cornelia Street Cafe
• The Cornelia Street Café
• The Cornell Club (New York City)
• The Corner building
• The Cornered Tigers
• The Corner House, Nottingham
• The Corner Man
• The Corners, Canada West
• The Cornet (film)
• The Cornish Colony