I didn't realize that Professor Hamilton has moved so much over to the Peak Oil side. Yes, he continues to talk about demand destruction due to price incentives and the perfection of price signals in the futures markets, but his conclusions would now fit right in with most of us here. This is a link to his presentation at the American Enterprise Institute:

http://peakoil.blogspot.com/2005/11/uc-san-diego-economist-hamilton-weighs.html

"In other words I think peak oil is going to look a whole lot like where we are right now."

Well, he's not quite there yet. Peak oil means the same as last year, and we will produce more this year than last. Actual peak won't last long anyway, post-peak is where it gets really interesting.

On the other hand, his views are a lot closer than the markets. He notes that the futures markets predict lower prices, beginning in a year or so and continuing lower indefinitely. The futures markets' view is pretty rosy right now (but they do react quickly to fresh data). He points out that investors who believe in peak oil can make a lot of money buying the futures. I think most peak oil investors (eg myself) prefer to invest in E&P companies, the majority of which have stock prices too high for their fundamentals, meaning buyers must be expecting higher prices are coming.

Exactly my sentiments, ksinger.  Economists are still abit coy about all this, hedging their bets, so to speak.

He is clearly following the discussion, which is good.  We have a ways to go before the going gets rougher.