There's an economic phenomenon where historically places with certain resource scarcity tend to become stronger super powers (Due to stronger working middle class rights). Resource rich Nations get ravaged with endless war until they become poverty struck. This is thought to be the reason why the US became a super power, yet the agriculture bountiful South America is an economically developing country to this day.

Gas scarcity is basically the same thing. Less availability = economy adapts. Though there is a lot of pain when you build you 50 years+ worth of econony around this.