An Empirical Model For Oil Prices and Some Implications
Introduction
This work is preliminary. It is a preview of part of a paper I am writing with Aude Illig. There are three main reasons I am making this post. The first is as a public service. There are many people reading this blog who are directly affected by oil prices and who have to make decisions based on future oil prices. Having a model to understand the dynamics of oil prices is of use to them. The second reason is that some people reading this blog model oil extraction. These models either omit price considerations or make assumptions on them. Our model is a large improvement on these assumptions so it should improve their extraction models. The final reason is that I consider the quality of the comments on this blog to be high. I believe that the feedback I get from this post will improve the quality of the final paper. Indeed, Dennis Coyne has already provided valuable feedback after previewing the post. This study has been a humbling experience. Get ready to throw out everything you thought you knew about oil prices.
The model does not by any means explain all oil price variation. What is remarkable is that with only one data set, it explains so much. Many factors may affect the price of oil. This model provides a base to which other variables can be added to find what explains oil prices.
I was asked to write a chapter titled “Strategies for an Economy Facing Energy Constraints” for a book last year which I wrote with my daughter. I do not think the book will be published but the chapter may be of interest to some. I have posted the pdf file on line and will refer to it often [2].
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