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Steady state and throughput
The Republic holds its total use of energy and materials constant, and spends every efficiency gain on sufficiency.
Throughput, not output
Throughput is the physical flow: energy and materials entering the economy, and waste and emissions leaving it. Output is what gets made and done. Article 22 caps the first and leaves the second free to rise.
The cap
Total throughput is held at the safe level the Ecological Budget Authority determines. Where measured throughput exceeds it, a binding schedule of reduction runs until the level is reached, and the cap then holds. The figure is stated both in aggregate and per resident.
Where efficiency gains go
Gains from better technique or organisation are applied to sufficiency of provision, restoration, shorter working time, more durable goods, and the reserve. Applying them to expand throughput is prohibited, which closes the rebound effect by law.
What this means in daily life
Better methods show up as more free provision and fewer hours. Output stays within the ceiling. Article 72(2) requires a share of every gain to go into cutting the working week.