Energy & Economics

A robust world economy is driving up oil consumption, while supply is growing slowly. The global safety margin, from oil stocks and excess capacity, is shrinking. By later this year, world oil markets could be in a rather delicate balance--a balance vulnerable to a political shock, such as might be

The U.N. economic sanctions on Iraq, now more than nine years old, continue to elicit strong objections from those who view them as unjust. Only two weeks ago, Hans von Sponeck, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, resigned. The sanctions, he said, create a "true human tragedy that needs to

DANIELA GRESSANI In many ways, Syria's economy is not very different from that of other countries in the region. Oil is important, accounting for 60 percent of exports. Agriculture is more important than might be expected on the basis of natural endowment: it contributes about 20 percent of the gross

On September 30, 1999, Rima Khalaf-Hunaidi, Jordan's deputy prime minister and minister of planning and the highest female official in the Arab world, addressed The Washington Institute's Special Policy Forum. The following is a rapporteur's summary of her remarks. Read a full transcript. High Expectations, Disappointing Outcomes When Jordan and

Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit's meeting with U.S. president Bill Clinton tomorrow will produce warm atmospherics but no major earthquake-related aid. Washington had planned to make loan guarantees the centerpiece of both its relief package and Ecevit's trip. Reportedly unhappy with what it considered a low figure, however, Ankara indicated

The U.S. Department of Commerce must rule by August 9 on whether a suit can proceed against Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, and Iraq, accusing them of selling oil in the U.S. market at an unfairly low price. The suit was filed with little fanfare in early July by a consortium

Yesterday, Prince Sultan, the Saudi second deputy prime minister and minister of defense and civil aviation, left Tehran after meetings with senior Iranian leaders, including Ayatollah 'Ali Khamene'i, President Muhammad Khatami, and Defense Minister 'Ali Shamkhani. The talks centered on ways to increase regional stability, the signing of a civil

Oil ministers from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are due to meet in Vienna, Austria on 23 March to agree formally on production cuts that will bolster the flagging price of oil. The current weak oil prices have benefited the industrialized economies of the world but have created