Today, issues of production and redistribution of oil are the determining factors in the formation of world prices for food and items to use in establishing the world of quotations exchange rates, and even in the growth or decline of the economy of entire regions.And a major role in these processes play OPEC countries.
history and causes of the formation of OPEC
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, better known in the Russian segment as the Organization of the countries - Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has its origins in 1960.Then 5 countries decided to establish a framework that would regulate the production volumes and the cost of a barrel of oil on the international market.Such an agreement was signed by five states, with which steel Venezuela, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Kuwait.Later they were joined by several other countries, and the beginning of the 90s the number of 13 members.
In the last decade of the XX century, OPEC left Ecuador (1992) and Gabon (1994), however, the first restored its membership in 2007.Indonesia is also due to internal reasons preferred to terminate its membership in the organization in 2009.Today, the organization includes Venezuela, Iraq and Saudi Arabia (the leader in oil reserves), Iran, Kuwait, Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Qatar, Libya, the United Arab Emirates and Nigeria.
Countries, OPEC, pursuing mainly two objectives: establishing a comfortable price range for their oil and redistribution of quotas for its exports.But at the same time, these states do not hesitate to use its leadership to achieve political goals.A good example of these actions was the introduction of the embargo against the United States in 1973 because of the active support of the latest Israel in the Arab-Israeli conflict.Some analysts tend to believe that most of the economic crises of the twentieth century were provoked behalf of the organization.
OPEC countries regulate production of "black gold" on the basis of their own economic situation.Such actions are justified becausefor the majority of production and exports are the main source of income forming budget.
Power and weakness
All countries, OPEC, facing certain problems.Experts distinguish them four main categories: rigid social gradation of the population, technological backwardness, underdeveloped national system of training and unreasonable use of excessive profits obtained.
The living standard of the population, the OPEC countries are divided into two groups: the super-rich and the poor.In the countries with a high standard of living there is a lack of population, while the poor - the number of people exceeds reasonable limits.In this regard, the first to receive significant foreign investment, and the latter fall into dependence on foreign donors.This separation inevitably generates some differences in the formulation of development strategies.
mainly focusing on oil, many OPEC members lose sight of the need to develop its own technological base.Independently, in this case there are only Saudi Arabia and the UAE.These countries were able in time to refocus national science at improving the technological base.Other countries rely on the help of foreign companies cooperating on the basis of concession contracts.
Slowly emerging from the previous issues, appears and a lack of highly skilled staff that would effectively implement the latest developments and to optimize the process of oil extraction.These specialists are mainly from abroad, which is not uncommon misunderstanding among the locals.
However, despite these three issues, there is another controversial point - the profits from the sale of oil and its products.The euphoria of them lasted literally the entire second half of the twentieth century.The money was spent unwisely, and instead invest in the development of other sources of income of the state budget, they were going in a completely hopeless projects.At this time the situation has changed: in poor countries funds are invested in economic and social programs (but not always effective), rich - on the development of other sources of income.
Organization countries - Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) today really is a powerful tool of manipulation by both economic and political processes.However, the internal problems of states - members do not allow to effectively develop themselves.Such contradictions in the strength and weakness will cause the loss of its leading position in the world oil industry, if not eliminated.
