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To: .cnI redruM
So if we just nationalized all our oil companies and told them what they were allowed to import or export, we'd be fine. Sure, that worked really well for The Soviet Union, Cuba, East Germany, Bulgaria, Romania....

Nice Straw man.

First, you must have suplus domestic productions. If you import any significant percentage of oil, you will be affected by the fungible market. Last I checked, the US imports 60ish% of all oil.

Next, no where did I suggest that the US should nationalize oil production.

Your original post suggested that if Russia sets price controls, they will have shortages. This is a false premise if two conditions exist. 1. Surplus Domestic Production. 2. Export Controls.

What Russian Export controls will do is raise the prices for everyone else if Russian demand surges as it will dwindle global supply. It will however not affect available supply or price in Russia, up to and until they need to start importing, which is nowhere on their Horizon.

24 posted on 09/20/2005 8:02:01 AM PDT by Malsua
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To: Malsua
>>>>It will however not affect available supply or price in Russia, up to and until they need to start importing

Bzzzt.... Thanks for playing. Unless the Russian government refuses to let the Russian oil companies export, they will simply sell the oil elsewhere in order to maximize their return on the production cost.
28 posted on 09/20/2005 8:06:03 AM PDT by .cnI redruM ( "Go ahead, punk, make my Earl Grey." - Mark Steyn)
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To: Malsua
"Your original post suggested that if Russia sets price controls, they will have shortages. This is a false premise if two conditions exist. 1. Surplus Domestic Production. 2. Export Controls."

The Russians do have surplus domestic production of OIL. They do not have surplus domestic production of GASOLINE. Since it is gasoline thats price has been frozen, there could be shortages in some areas. The article said that there is a shortage of investment in refineries.

What price freezes and export controls will do is dump a significant portion of Russian oil and gasoline exports onto the black market.

It will not restrict actual exports as Russian authorities are among the most corrupt in the world. It will become a vast money making opportunity for organized crime. In fact it may turn out to be so lucrative that it becomes permanent. That will indeed be sad for Russian consumers because that will lead to permanent shortages as it did for other consumer products during the Soviet years.
66 posted on 09/20/2005 9:10:24 AM PDT by monday
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