Quote of the day by Paul Krugman : The shift away from fossil fuels is often discussed in terms of climate change, government policy and the development of cleaner energy. But economist Paul Krugman’s quote points to another important factor: cost. Krugman argues that when fossil fuels remain cheap, people have less financial reason to change the way they produce and consume energy. His observation highlights how prices can influence technological progress and the pace at which societies adopt alternatives.