Yes and no. At any given time there is finite production and we use money to figure out who gets that production. Trading in futures is part of how that is done. With rations, we set demand below potential supply by deciding in advance that no more than say 80% of current use will be avaliable to use in say four years. Since demand is well below potential supply, price drops. It is the inverse of the current cartel system where supliers manipulate prices by manipulating supply. In this case demand is manipulated. Lowering the cost of fuel frees up funds to invest in alternatives while the rationing also motivates the demand for alternatives. Here is my outline again. The next post gives a science based motivation for doing things this quickly.

Chris