Should we want oil prices to go up, because that will discourage oil consumption, or down because that will discourage oil production? In fact, countries should seek both outcomes: Lower the price paid to oil producers and raise the price paid by oil consumers, by cutting subsidies for oil products or raising taxes on them.
CAMBRIDGE – World oil prices, which have been highly volatile during the last decade, have fallen more than 50% over the past year. The economic effects have been negative overall for oil-exporting countries, and positive for oil-importing countries. But what about effects that are not directly economic? If we care about environmental and other externalities, should we want oil prices to go up, because that will discourage oil consumption, or down because that will discourage oil production?
CAMBRIDGE – World oil prices, which have been highly volatile during the last decade, have fallen more than 50% over the past year. The economic effects have been negative overall for oil-exporting countries, and positive for oil-importing countries. But what about effects that are not directly economic? If we care about environmental and other externalities, should we want oil prices to go up, because that will discourage oil consumption, or down because that will discourage oil production?