Tensions in the Middle East and north Africa, we are told, lie behind the recent increase in global fuel prices, which Wednesday hit a 2 ½-year high. Yet while Brent crude this week stayed above $120 a barrel, in Tripoli petrol hovered at around 34p a gallon. And that is not a typo. The popular reason for why those closest to the fighting, in this case, suffer less than those farther afield, is Libya’s hefty subsidies. The less popular reason is that world energy markets have been carefully designed to profit from the slightest supply hiccup, even if there is little evidence of actual shortages.
有人告诉我们：中东与北非的紧张局势，导致了manbetx app苹果 燃料价格近期的上涨——上周三触及了两年半以来的高点。不过，尽管布伦特原油(Brent crude)上周一直维持在每桶120美元以上，但在利比亚的黎波里，油价却始终在每加仑34便士上下徘徊（这不是笔误！）为何最靠近战场的地区，所受的影响反而小于远离战场的地区？就该案例而言，最流行的解释是，利比亚有丰厚的补贴。一个不那么流行的解释是，世界能源市场经过了精心的设计，可从最微小的供给问题中获利，即使没有太多证据证明石油供应会出现实际的短缺。