The Crafty Saudis: How They’re Sustaining Low Oil Prices
The oil market continues to be oversupplied and barrel prices remain low. It’s mostly the Saudis’ doing, and its part of their strategy to replace OPEC with a new Global Corporate Oil Board. Their newest tactic is a boost in domestic refining and growth in their refined product exports. Where does everyone else stand, and ... Read more
Is Iran’s Oil Ministry the X-Factor in Nuclear Negotiations?
The negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program have be shrouded in secrecy. But the on-goings of Iran’s oil ministry are providing insight into the dynamics at play on the Iranian side, and it is about time someone starts connecting the dots. It is no secret that Iran seeks the return of Western international oil ... Read more
Who Are The World’s Top Energy Companies?
Platts publishes an annual Top-250 Energy Companies list while Forbes puts out its own top-25 biggest oil and gas producers list, and in 2013 many of Forbes’ biggest companies do not show up on Platts’ list. The overall picture speaks to the burgeoning diversity and multiplicity of dynamics at play in the global energy sector. ... Read more
Janet Yellen: Maybe Not What You Would Expect
If two similar things with the same theme can be considered a “series,” then last night Reuters put out the second interview in what I’m dubbing the “Inside An Economist’s Brain” series. If you did not see the first one, I was interviewed about a month ago on a psychological profile I conducted of Larry ... Read more
Our Agriculture and Energy Policies: A New Malthusian Catastrophe?
Thomas Malthus (1766-1834) is best known for his theory of population growth in which he postulates that population growth will be limited by food production, and that because the two grow at different rates, one is beholden to the other and will be limited by it. He writes: “Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ... Read more
A Psychological Profile of Ben Bernanke
From Stephen Harper to Ben Bernanke I took a fascinating graduate course at The Maxwell School of Syracuse University from Dr. Margaret “Peg” Hermann, a leading political psychologist. She taught us the theory and methodology of psychologically profiling political leaders, and over the course of the semester we each completed a profile of a leader ... Read more