One of the nation’s leading authorities on energy economics will address the topic “Why the Price of Oil Should Never Exceed $80.00 a Barrel?” when Phil Verleger speaks at the Feb. 19 University of California, San Diego Economics Roundtable.

A specialist in the study of energy commodity markets, Verleger is author of more than 100 articles and books on this topic and is highly regarded as an expert witness in private disputes as well as an independent authority, who is frequently called upon for Congressional testimony on oil, gas and other energy topics.

President of PKVerleger Consulting and senior advisor to The Brattle Group, a Cambridge, Mass. economics consulting firm, Verleger received his Ph.D. in economics from MIT.

The talk takes place at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 19 at the UCSD Faculty Club.