Squid and Oil Face a Common Enemy

The article on overfishing and the potential extinction of a valuable resource reminds me of the current difficulty with oil production and the destruction of the environment. There is little to no incentive to limit oil drilling and control of oil fields. However there is a monetary control placed on oil production when the oil cartels and OPEC understand that by limiting the availablilty of oil by drilling less the price of oil goes up. Countries and even individual consumers have been forced to pay the higher price because of the dependency on oil as a source of energy and a raw material for industry.

The same control is not true for the fishing industry. As the cost of fish and squid increase, consumers can find ready substitutes - steak or vegetarian meals. Fish is rarely an indispensable commodity for most consumers of the world. Oil on the other hand is not replaceable - at least not yet and not until there is a viable and reliable cheaper energy source and the technology to use it.

Solar power and wind power are two potentially viable sources that future technology may bring into reality. Both are public goods - that is nonexcludable and nonrival in their specific form although a levied cost may make them artificially scarce goods, limiting access to those willing to pay.

For now oil is the primary source of energy for transportation and much of industry. As the demand continues, the "overfishing " of the fossil fuels as well as the associated pollution will continue to threaten the environment and political stability of the world.

One of the hot issues in the upcoming election is the management of the high cost of oil (driven up by both the manipulation of supply by the oil producers and by the surge in demand by developing nations like China and India which have greatly increased their oil consumption). Two different solutions have been proposed. One by McCain is to relax the government regulation that prohibits drilling in protected lands and coastal areas of the United States. The Democratic proposal is to reduce the demand for oil through government regulation that forces auto manufactures to increase the engine efficiency of cars and and increase the development of hybrid and electric cars. Notably in the free market economy, consumers themselves have an impact on the crisis by buying smaller cars, using public transportation, conserving energy in the heating and cooling of their homes, and driving less. Although government regulation is necessary, the consumer behavior is also an important element in decreasing over use and unacceptable levels of environmental impact.