| At first, people thought that OPEC was purposefully keeping prices low (by not reducing supply) in order to smother the emerging shale industry in the crib. With low oil prices, less investment would flow to alternatives to conventional oil, which can be expensive. But, as Bloomberg reports, that might not be the answer. The answer increasingly seems to be that OPEC isn't raising prices because it can't raise prices.
The cartel isn't holding. The smaller OPEC members don't want to shrink output — which would have to happen to raise prices — because their economies are too unstable and they can't afford it. Even Saudi Arabia, the most important OPEC member, is in favor of staying the course...............................................Full Article: Source
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