Nice Graphic showing the Continent of Europe at night in 1992 and 2010. People see lights. Economics students see Opportunity Costs!

A map of the continent of Europe at Night (HT: Carpe Diem).  Watch carefully. The image transitions from 1992 to 2010. It is interesting to note the areas that have much more light (by light I mean produced by electricity). The spead to the former Soviet Block countries after the fall of the Berlin Wall is pretty obvious.  Also, if you look at some of the central cities like Paris and Madrid.  There is definitely a pattern of "Urban-to Suburban Sprawl".

This suggests two things---(1) Europe got much richer over  the last 20 years in order for infrastructure to be built (and paid for) to support new economic activity. (2) They consume much more energy, in total, from fossil fuels (and Nuclear) which contributes to environmental problems that concern most Europeans...Can anyone say Opportunity Costs?  Hate those opportunity costs--they always get in the way and make you think!