Opec Behaviour And World Oil Prices

This volume, originally published in 1982, brings together economists, political scientists and industry experts to explain OPEC’s past achievements and future (in the early 1980s) prospects. The book opens with a clear, concise amd easy to follow treatment of the economics of exhaustible resources under monopoly and competition, the framework frequently used to examine pricing issues. The role of wealth maximisation, wealth satisficing and political factors as OPEC objectives are discussed and implications for world oil prices assessed. The stability of OPEC and the limitations of its pricing policy are examined and OPEC oil pricing and importers’ policies analysed.

This book presents new information on OPEC in the 21st century, oil prices and liquefied natural gas. An analysis of selected methodologies and applications in the oil exploration industry is included. The study of the interactive nature of activities between financial and petroleum markets, the dynamic behaviour of oil price volatility and the linkages between the prices of oil futures on different exchanges are also discussed. An theoretical analysis is made on the impact of a rise in the world price of oil on inflation, output, employment and welfare in a small open economy. The relationship between the volatility of oil products and other products indirectly dependent on oil is also considered. This book presents a generalisation of cartel models by incorporating both world demand and supply conditions into OPEC pricing. Furthermore, potential effects of an ad valorem tariff, non-cartel output, and alternative fuels on OPEC'S behaviour are investigated. Output growth and oil consumption in China are also explored.

After the collapse of the Soviet system, the immense problems of environmental pollution in Central and Eastern Europe were widely publicized. Less well known were its effects on health in the region, which have led to a serious health crisis. This report examines the degree to which the pollution adversely affected human health, putting it in the context of other health determinants such as socioeconomic factors, health care standards and availability, and lifestyle factors. Among the numerous pollutants, the report points to lead, dust, toxic gases, and nitrates in rural water supplies as having a significant impact on health in Central and Eastern Europe. The author suggests possible avenues for international action. However, an analysis of the determinants of health reveals that addressing the pollution problems alone will not solve the health crisis. Improving health in this region will depend on the changing economic fortunes of individual countries and the ability of each to create a supportive social environment for its citizens.

Addressing the major issues arising from the power ascribed to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), this book reflects the bredth, expertise and multifaceted viewpoints of the contributors: members of OPEC itself, industry representatives, and scholars and energy specialists from the USA, Europe and the Middle East. Throughout the book, the authors look at the potential of OPEC, discernible trends in such crucial areas as global petroleum supply and pricing, and the international economic and political implications of both.

The policy of the United States and, by extension, that of many oil importing countries, toward OPEC countries is in large part a function of an estimate of the factors that condition oil decisions in exporting countries. In this title, originally published in 1978, Ted Moran examines how immune OPEC can expect to be to the struggles over market shares that traditionally have beset attempts to organize natural resource cartels. Moran’s research leads him to argue that skyrocketing commitments to growth and social betterment leave little slack in national budgets and thus preclude output reductions for any extended period, or at least act as a substantial deterrent, unless such reductions come in support of an effort to raise real oil prices substantially. For any student interested in international policy making, economic development, or environmental studies, this title offers fascinating insights into the oil industry.

This book gives information on the OPEC nations' changing roles in the world oil market as they expand to "downstream" activities. It provides an overview of the production capabilities and policies of major oil exporters and examines the refinery overcapacity crisis in the developed world.

The market for North Sea Brent Oil directly determines the price of over one-half of the world trade in crude oil. This study analyzes the workings of the oil market and describes how crude oil prices are determined throughout the world. It covers OPEC pricing, futures markets for oil, the impact of the UK taxation regime, and the mechanisms by which the world price of oil is determined. The text should be of benefit to those working in the areas of futures and forward markets, OPEC behaviour, North Sea oil, oil taxation and oil prices.