If we suddenly (over, say, 3 years) had NO NEED whatsoever for oil, what would happen to the world?

This is a hypothetical question...

Let's just say that all of a sudden, over the space of a few years, we had series of technological breakthroughs that made it so we could have all of our energy needs met with greater efficacy than ever before, and with no need for any kind of oil. And let's say that the cost of this was extremely cheap, and that the transition to do it was totally easy and also just as cheap.

What would happen to the middle east? Wh


at would happen to our own economy, and to the whole world?

People, and Hence economies and countries will adapt to the new reality.

A couple of hundred years ago, no one took any notice of oil, getting it, opened new opportunities, Finding new energy source like Cold Fusion, Would open more and different opportunities

So ... WHAT IF pigs could fly?

PEACE and cheaper stuf

ha. We actually had the capacity to not need oil anymore, but the government and big business didn't like that so they took it away. Rent and watch the movie "what killed the electric car" it's quite fascinating. We had the technology and had electric cars out there that didn't need fuel, but they all of the sudden disappeared because they worked just a little TOO good.

im sure alot of jobs would be lost middle east would be uslessbut would still probly be used for somthing so maybe not

-1 It would be a GREAT thing. Hopefully Romney's plan to reinvigorate Detroit includes electric cars, wind and solar power!

-2 In spite of the rhetoric over oil in the Middle and that causing the war, and keeping us in it. (A small factor) There is a much deeper issue. That is Jihad. It is about the last days when Christians/Jews fight against all other religions and causes. The Bible outlines the existence of 12 kingdoms, like the European Union etc.

This battle has been going on for centuries, and it will be be ugly, but it won't be about oil.

In time this hypothetical question will no longer be hypothetical.

Question is , which would come first, the destruction of the world or the depletion of oil reserves all over the globe.

Not taking into account the above.....

There are r and d of alternative fuels, in just a few more years the demand for oil will be lower. every year, some countries atleast, the demand for oil decreases by atleast a few percent or a fraction of due to breakthrough on alternative fuel or energy source.

If one day we don't need oil that much oil then would be so cheap it would be the same cost as this hypothetical energy source you are mentioning. Law of supply and demand.

economy around the world will depend on what is the source of this fuel you are talking about, some might have an improved economy, tohers maybe status quo.

Middle east is gearing up on the possibility that their oil reserve will not last, hwat are they doing? they are opening some of the middle east countries to tourism. soon they will embrace technology and become forerunners in this area.

Take a look at Dhubai. You will know what i mean. Arabs are smart.

Given, that nothing else in the global, economic equation was changed, the Islamic nations of the middle-east(other than Egypt, which has tremendous tourism)would probably become destitute.

Those of Indonesia, would fare better, because their economies are not so dependent on oil.

Russia would probably collapse into economic chaos.

And China would become "the" global, economic super-power.

This country, because of the continuing decline of the dollar and our enormous debt, is so far on its way down the tube, that I don't think we are far away from a total economic collapse: oil, or no oil; it doesn't matter.

Alberich

Alberich