Summary

Abstract

It is the aim of this investigation to show the long-run development of the petroleum-industry from its very beginning up to now under two aspects. The one is to analyse the economic impulses and powers which stimulated the growth of this industry and caused the special types of integration whilst the other one is to consider the influence of the petroleum-industry on the macroeconomic growth and the development of certain sectors. In contradiction to a lot of existing historical and describing studies of the petroleum-industry this analysis makes use of the instruments of modern economic theory. It will be tried to explain the historical process of development of the petroleum-industry by applying new economic theory. In so far the study can be considered as an examination of theoretical assertions.