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Design and implementation of the price cap on Russian oil exports

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  • Johnson, Simon
  • Rachel, Lukasz
  • Wolfram, Catherine

Abstract

Basic economics teaches that price caps are bad – limiting the price of a good distorts demand and discourages producers from supplying the market. So why did the Biden Administration, led by Janet Yellen, the consummate economist, champion a price cap on oil from Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022? The answer is that this price cap, implemented for crude oil in December 2022 and oil products in February 2023, differs significantly from the standard cap discussed in introductory economics classes. This paper explains these differences and describes the first six months this policy has been in existence. We provide background on Russian oil trade and describe the goals, structure, enforcement and economics of the price cap. We review the main concerns and contrast them with the outcomes observed to date.

Suggested Citation

  • Johnson, Simon & Rachel, Lukasz & Wolfram, Catherine, 2023. "Design and implementation of the price cap on Russian oil exports," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 1244-1252.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:51:y:2023:i:4:p:1244-1252
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2023.06.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Iikka Korhonen & Heli Simola, 2022. "How Important Are Russia's External Economic Links?," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 21(2), pages 1-13, Summer.
    2. Simon Johnson & Lukasz Rachel & Catherine Wolfram, 2023. "A Theory of Price Caps on Non-Renewable Resources," NBER Working Papers 31347, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. António Afonso & José Alves & Sofia Monteiro, 2024. "The pressure is on: how geopolitical tensions impact institutional fiscal and external stability responses," Working Papers REM 2024/0318, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    2. António Afonso & José Alves & Sofia Monteiro, 2024. "Echoes of Instability: How Geopolitical Risks Shape Government Debt Holdings," CESifo Working Paper Series 11235, CESifo.
    3. Kökény, László & Kelemen, Hunor, 2025. "A háborús szankciós bejelentések hatásai a nyersolajárfolyamokra [The impact of sanction announcements on the prices of various crude oils in the shadow of war]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(1), pages 20-49.

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    Keywords

    Oil; Price cap; Sanctions; War; Energy;
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