Europe limits the price of Russian gas by the brothers from the nineties
[ad_1]
Ursula Storming the Sky
In European politics, now is the real season of “storming the skies.” If anyone does not remember, then with this phrase, the still young Karl Marx praised the heroes of the Paris Commune, people who tried to do the impossible. The result of the commune is known: the impossible is called so because it is impossible to make it. But their romantic impulse, madness and courage still inspire followers.
Here is the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. It has only been three days since the G7 countries seem to have agreed on the introduction of a mechanism for limiting prices for Russian oil. There is still no proven and developed mechanism of its action. And Ursula is already declaring that limit prices should also be introduced for gas. And no one even asks how it works. How to prohibit non-G7 countries from buying Russian oil at prices above the ceiling. It is said that London will refuse to insure tankers with Russian oil bought too expensive. Well, London is not the only place for ship insurance. The lack of an explanation for the activation of the fantastic threats of the “Seven” has already generated a lot of memes on the Web. I like this one: Putin and Xi are talking, looking up somewhere. “How it works?” asks the Chinese leader. “It doesn’t work at all. Just a ceiling,” Putin replies.
And here it should be noted that Russia is not the only gas producing country that is currently subjected to price blackmail in Europe. There is also Norway. I read several articles in English newspapers that, with gas prices that have increased more than 4 times (in Europe, a quarter of gas supplies from Norway), the northern neighbor is already very fat and it’s time to share. For example, by concluding long-term contracts with British companies at below market prices. I almost forgot: not just lower, but half the market. The answer of the head of the Norwegian Ministry of Energy demonstrates inhuman restraint and calmness: “Oil companies operating on the Norwegian continental shelf operate on a commercial basis. And the authorities will not impose gas supply contracts on business with a fixed price below the market.” The minister also recalled that about 20 years ago, the EU itself abandoned long-term contracts, choosing the spot market, where prices fluctuate from day to day. “In some periods, this gave EU countries low gas prices, and in certain periods, such as now, it gave higher prices.” Agree, a good minister. Calm as an elephant. Although elephants are not found in Norway. And most likely the English translators simply could not cope with the intricate Norwegian profanity.
Personally, as a person who lived in the 90s, I can easily give a clear example of the establishment of local non-market pricing in a market economy. Here he is. The brothers who cover the market either buy up all the products of manufacturers for a penny and sell them at retail at exorbitant prices, or force everyone on the market to trade at an overpriced, but uniform price, and then withdraw the surplus. All those who do not agree to play by their rules are first physically warned or killed immediately, depending on the degree of bloodthirstiness of the historical period. Moreover, the goals for which the lads will spend the resulting excess profits can be declared the most romantic. For example, helping children. Perhaps even Ukrainian. But it does not cease to be banditry.
And it worked. While the brothers were the main ones in the area. But now it turns out that in addition to the Washington brothers, there are also Moscow ones. And from day to day, Beijing ones can catch up. And there are also kind of quiet Delhi people who suddenly go berserk when someone from above tries to teach them how to live. Or take a gop-stop.
This is how the planned price ceiling for Russian resources was supposed to work. And that’s why it won’t work.
Newspaper headline:
Ursula Storming the Sky
[ad_2]
Source link
