Tag Archives: oil demand

Affordability, Not Scarcity, Is the Real Energy Crisis

With the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, many expect oil prices to spike and stay high. . . . Looking at energy data going back to 1820, low demand (affordability) has repeatedly produced financial crashes, wars, and collapses, we appear to be entering another such period. Continue reading

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Why oil prices don’t rise to consistently high levels

The supply and demand model of economists suggests that oil prices might rise to consistently high levels, but this has not happened yet: In my view, the economists’ model of supply and demand is overly simple; its usefulness is limited … Continue reading

Posted in Energy policy, Financial Implications | Tagged , , | 1,589 Comments

Why stimulus can’t fix our energy problems

Economists tell us that within the economy there is a lot of substitutability, and they are correct. However, there are a couple of not-so-minor details that they overlook: There is no substitute for energy. It is possible to harness energy … Continue reading

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Our Latest Oil Predicament

It is impossible to tell the whole oil story, but perhaps I can offer a few insights regarding where we are today. [1] We already seem to be back to the falling oil prices and refilling storage tanks scenario. US crude oil … Continue reading

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$50 Oil Doesn’t Work

$50 per barrel oil is clearly less impossible to live with than $30 per barrel oil, because most businesses cannot make a profit with $30 per barrel oil. But is $50 per barrel oil helpful? I would argue that it … Continue reading

Posted in Financial Implications | Tagged , , | 1,650 Comments