Coal, the nation's most abundant fossil fuel and the only one that is
exported, represents one of our most valuable natural resources. This
study undertakes a thorough review of the economics of the Appalachian
coal industry. It establishes, first of all, the international framework
within which the American and the Appalachian coal industry function. It
next examines the underlying principles that govern the production of
and the demand for coal. This demand is influenced not only by price but