NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm writing a reasearch paper for an economic anyalsis class, and the subject i've got to work with is the Current Gas prices.

Do you think they're too high, and measures should be taken to stop the rise, or do you think high prices would be good for the US to make us reduce our dependancy on foreign oil. Anyone who could give me good sources, as well as their opinions, for either argument would be much appretiated.

I dunno much about this, but i'd say that high prices are affecting the economy, by driving up the prices of everything else. Where i live, prices are around 2.30 a gallon, and still riseing...

Sure, would you prefer I do your homework in serif or sans-serif font?

Really, you need to investigate the costs of alternate fuels, both from a consumer cost as well as a producer and supplier cost. The rollout costs and how long it would take to amortize those.

You have to consider the proportion of fuels used by non-consumers - not just autos but heating oil, power generators, transports, military, etc.

Finally you must consider the environmental impact of alternate fuels and the effect of the loss of tax revenues on the sale of fossil fuels.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/04/14/EDGLUC816J1.DTL

where ilive it is 3.30 for gas and i have a van it is not good :headbang:

:p I was not advicating you do any of my work for me, all i am trying to do is get a sense of the "public" opinion, by my own experiences, not some statistic a poll says, and i figure everyone here is a good enough representation of the "general public", i could ask them their opinions.

However i appreciate your response, as several of the items you brought up there were ones I had not considered

OPEC more or less sets the price. But currently, alot of the problems lies in China and India's expanding economy and it's demand for oil. Plus I think Iraq's infrastructure isn't very readily set up.

I don't have my resources currently.. But you should check out 'The Economist' magazines few months back. Very good write-ups.. And the problems of the surging oil prices.

Bah, the US don't know what high gas prices are. Here in Victoria, BC (Canada), it's $1.02 per litre, which would be $4.08 per gallon. In Europe, it's even more expensive.

I won't write your report for you, but I will take a chance to spread the gospel. Read this energy report. When you're done you should have everything you need to explain in detail the history, current situation, and future challenges of our energy consumption as well as be able to give a conclusion and suggestions as to what to do about our problems.

Summery (http://mwhodges.home.att.net/energy/energy.htm)
USA section (http://mwhodges.home.att.net/energy/energy-a.htm)
World section (http://mwhodges.home.att.net/energy/energy-b.htm)
Conclusion (http://mwhodges.home.att.net/energy/energy-c.htm)

$2.50 a gallon, although if you go about 30 miles north than it's $2.25

Oregon, Salem Area. The second one is Banks Oregon.

yes because in europe we tax our demerit goods because they produce negative externalities, ie fucking up the environment, the upside of having 90%of the price in fuel as tax is that if world prices double the price for us only goes up 10% since the 90% tax stays the same