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Fundamental Economics of Depletable Energy Supply

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  • Toman, Michael
  • Krautkraemer, Jeffrey

Abstract

In this paper, we first present and discuss the basic logic underlying all neoclassical economic theories of “optimal” energy supply: maximization of the present value of some stream of economic returns. We then discuss how the economic theory of optimal resource depletion has evolved since Hotelling’s classic 1931 article. We also consider the power of the theory to support improved empirical understanding of actual behavior. Our discussion of empirical literature indicates that this work has so far provided only limited empirical understanding.

Suggested Citation

  • Toman, Michael & Krautkraemer, Jeffrey, 2003. "Fundamental Economics of Depletable Energy Supply," RFF Working Paper Series dp-03-01, Resources for the Future.
    • Handle: RePEc:rff:dpaper:dp-03-01
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    Cited by:

    1. Marc Gronwald, 2009. "Jumps in Oil Prices- Evidence and Implications," ifo Working Paper Series 75, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    2. Heun, Matthew Kuperus & de Wit, Martin, 2012. "Energy return on (energy) invested (EROI), oil prices, and energy transitions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 147-158.
    3. Méjean, Aurélie & Hope, Chris, 2013. "Supplying synthetic crude oil from Canadian oil sands: A comparative study of the costs and CO2 emissions of mining and in-situ recovery," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 27-40.
    4. Diego Barril and Fernando Navajas, 2015. "Natural Gas Supply Behavior under Interventionism: The Case of Argentina," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 4).
    5. Barril, Diego & Navajas, Fernando H., 2011. "What drove down natural gas production in Argentina?," MPRA Paper 35726, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Nov 2011.
    6. Brandt, Adam R., 2010. "Review of mathematical models of future oil supply: Historical overview and synthesizing critique," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(9), pages 3958-3974.
    7. Méjean, Aurélie & Hope, Chris, 2008. "Modelling the costs of non-conventional oil: A case study of Canadian bitumen," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(11), pages 4205-4216, November.
    8. Luo, Dongkun & Zhao, Xu, 2012. "Modeling the operating costs for petroleum exploration and development projects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 189-195.
    9. Alan Gelb & Kai Kaiser & Lorena Viñuela, 2012. "How Much Does Natural Resource Extraction Really Diminish National Wealth? The Implications of Discovery," Working Papers id:4874, eSocialSciences.
    10. Heinrich, Torsten, 2014. "Resource Depletion, Growth, Collapse, and the Measurement of Capital," MPRA Paper 54044, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Alan Gelb, Kai Kaiser, and Lorena Vinuela, 2012. "How Much Does Natural Resource Extraction Really Diminish National Wealth? The Implications of Discovery - Working Paper 290," Working Papers 290, Center for Global Development.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    depletable resources; energy; intertemporal optimization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy

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