This paper was written by H. T. Odum and published in 1982. It describes the relation between the maximum power principle and pulsing paradigm, and, among other things, explains how the maximum power principle is consistent with the minimum entropy production principle developed by Prigogine and Wiame. Their principle applies to systems near equilibrium where the available energy is limited, consequently, processes that are more efficient and produce less entropy will “utilize the maximum power available” (p. 35).
H. T. Odum, 1982. Pulsing, Power and Hierarchy. In Energetics and Systems. Edited by W. J. Mitsch, R. K. Ragade, R. W. Bosserman, and J. A. Dilon. Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor Science Publishers, 33-60.