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A Gas Cartel in the Global Market? Hype or Reality

Author

Listed:
  • Fazel M. Farimani

    (Post Doctoral Researcher, Sharif University of Technology, Sharif Policy Research Institute, Tehran, Iran,)

  • Seyed Reza Mirnezami

    (Sharif University of Technology, Sharif Policy Research Institute, Tehran, Iran,)

  • Ali Maleki

    (Sharif University of Technology, Sharif Policy Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.)

Abstract

In late 2018, Qatar -as a key player in the global gas market- announced that it has decided to quit the OPEC and rather will be focussing on its gas industry. Such a decision, drew the attentions once again and after a decade to the issue of gas cartel formation. The basic question of this paper is under which conditions gas cartel formation is feasible in presence of an oil cartel. Using a game theory framework the paper models the interaction of countries that export both gas and oil and are member of OPEC with those that export only gas or oil. Results indicate that gas cartel formation is feasible but under very vulnerable conditions. It is also shown that active members of OPEC who are also key players in the gas market prefer to form the cartel, however, it may not be the case for countries with unbalanced portfolio of oil and gas export. The impact of gas cartel formation on the price and supply of both oil and gas is also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Fazel M. Farimani & Seyed Reza Mirnezami & Ali Maleki, 2019. "A Gas Cartel in the Global Market? Hype or Reality," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 9(6), pages 296-304.
    • Handle: RePEc:eco:journ2:2019-06-34
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Nazim Hajiyev & Klaudia Smoląg & Ali Abbasov & Valeriy Prasolov, 2020. "Energy War Strategies: The 21st Century Experience," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-15, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gas Market; Gas Cartel; Bargaining; Game Theory;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices

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