The opening statement on the website of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

(OPEC) says its members seek “ … to secure an efficient, economic and regular supply of

petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers and a fair return on capital for those

investing in the petroleum industry.” To achieve these goals, OPEC attempts to coordinate and

unify petroleum policies by raising or lowering its members’ collective oil production. However,

increased production by the United States, Russia, Oman, Mexico, Norway, and other non-OPEC

countries has placed downward pressure on the price of crude oil.

Please explain:

○ To achieve these goals of stable and fair oil prices, what must OPEC do to maintain the price

of oil at its desired level?

○ How easy is it for OPEC to achieve this goal?