by ian807 » Fri 15 Feb 2013, 14:46:23
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Econ101', 'T')here is no physical shortage of oil limiting production, only political policy keeps us from adequate reliable supplies.
Um. No. Political policy, is as usual, irrelevant. For that matter whether we've officially hit peak oil or not is irrelevant.
Oil supply does not equal energy supply. At a macro level, what we as humans, in aggregate, are purchasing is positive net energy. There is, worldwide, a growing shortage of positive net energy by volume from oil. Commodity shortages, in this case "net energy by volume" cause price increases. This is invisible at the micro level. To the guy filling his car, a gallon of gas has as much energy as ever, but now he's paying more for it, since it takes more energy and therefore, more money, to get it.
Predictable result? Oil prices have not decreased significantly.
Future predictable result? Absent of some major reduction in demand caused by say, the invention of significant battery storage, oil and gasoline prices will increase for the foreseeable future.