Will trends in the paper industry over the past 100 years predict the future of the industry in the next 100 years

The trends and history of the paper industry have been tracked possibly in more detail than for any other manufacturing industry. Paper consumption, perhaps more than any other commodity, has reflected the fiscal health and the development of nations. This paper reviews past trends and correlations to explore the relationship between paper consumption and GDP/GNP and perceived standards of living. The paper also briefly reviews the way that technical developments in the industry and developments in society that have impacted paper demand over that time to provide a platform for a complimentary paper (1) by the same authors to identify a variety of opportunities for wood usage which could become attractive over the next twenty to one hundred years if certain technical difficulties can be overcome.