Resource Scarcity (2024)

The concept of resource scarcity is explored in this short revision video. We focus on water scarcity and water stress.

What is resource scarcity?

Resource scarcity is essentially about current demand for a resource exceeding available supply. But what matters is that this scarcity has potentially huge implications for how we lead our lives and the economic prosperity of communities, countries and regions.

Resource scarcity occurs when demand for a natural resource is greater than the available supply – leading to a decline in the stock of available resources. This can lead to unsustainable growth and a rise in inequality as prices rise making the resource less affordable for those who are least well-off.

Students introducing themselves to economics will become familiar with the different types of factor inputs available to produce (supply) goods and services. These are summarised in this graphic.

At the heart of many economic issues is this point: The economic problem involves decisions about how to make the best use of limited (scarce) resources when not all wants/needs can be fully satisfied.

Resource Scarcity (1)

What are the underlying causes of growing resource scarcity?

  1. Demand-induced – High market demand for a scarce resource
  2. Supply-induced – supply of a resource is running out over time as extraction rates increase
  3. Structural scarcity – due to mismanagement of the resource which leads to a long-term degradation of the resource
  4. Absence of effective / affordable substitutes for a scarce resource

Examples of demand-induced scarcity:

  • Fast-growing national populations putting pressure on natural resources e.g. water scarcity and water stress in urban areas
  • Rising prosperity (shown by higher per capita incomes) leading to increased ownership & use of resource-intensive consumer durables
  • Advances in production technologies & economies of scale e.g. which have made mobile devices affordable and adopted globally

Resource scarcity is closely tied to the crucially important issue of sustainable economic growth.

“Damage to ecosystems including forests, grasslands and coral reefs — and the associated loss of biodiversity — could drain nearly $10tn from the global economy by 2050, according to the Global Futures report from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the conservation group.” (Source: Financial Times, August 2020)

Resource Scarcity (2024)

FAQs

What is the answer to scarcity? ›

Another way to deal with scarcity is by reducing demand through quotas, rationing, or price caps. Scarcity forces consumers to make choices that come with associated opportunity costs. Opportunity cost is the cost of what is given up, compared to the value of the alternative.

What is scarcity a result of _________ resources? ›

Scarcity is caused by excess demand, insufficient supply or lack of access; it can also be the result of natural resource limitations or purposeful business strategy.

What is the short answer of scarcity? ›

Scarcity is one of the key concepts of economics. It means that the demand for a good or service is greater than the availability of the good or service. Therefore, scarcity can limit the choices available to the consumers who ultimately make up the economy.

How to solve scarcity of resources? ›

Reducing wants is one of the best options to remove scarcity. For example, if the water is scarce, then people should reduce water use and demand less of it. Water use can be reduced if people don?t waste water in unnecessary things. Technological improvement can also help to overcome scarcity.

What is resource scarcity? ›

The term “resource scarcity” describes a low supply and high demand of a limited resource. In theory, human wants can be infinite, but there is a finite amount of material resources, meaning there will always be some degree of scarcity. Economists use resource scarcity to determine the value of different goods.

Which answer best describes scarcity? ›

Answer and Explanation:

Scarcity is an economic problem, and it is defined as the gap between the unlimited wants of individuals and limited resources in the economy.

What is an example of a scarcity? ›

Overuse of land, water and animals can create a scarcity of the resource. For example, over hunting, over farming or over fishing can all create scarcities. Property rights and environmental protections often establish restrictions to prevent the overuse of a body of water, land parcel, forest or animal.

What does scarcity of resources gives? ›

Answer. Answer: The Problem of Choice: ... Therefore, scarcity of resources gives rise to the fundamental economic problem of choice. As a society cannot produce enough goods and services to satisfy all the wants of its people, it has to make choices.

What is scarcity effects? ›

What is the Scarcity Effect? The Scarcity Effect is the cognitive bias that makes people place a higher value on an object that is scarce and a lower value on one that is available in abundance.

What is scarcity responses? ›

Scarcity is basically how people handle satisfying themselves regarding unlimited wants and needs with resources that are limited. Humans place a higher value on an object that is scarce, and a lower value on those that are in abundance.

Is money a scarce resource? ›

For example, governments control the printing of money, a valuable good. But, paper, cotton, and labor are all widely available across the world, so the things required to make money are not themselves scarce. If governments print too much money, the value of their money decreases, because it has become less scarce.

What is scarcity for dummies? ›

The concept of scarcity is one of the most important concepts in economics. If we had the resources to fulfill every desire we had, everybody would have everything they wanted. But life is not like that; we have limited resources, and we must make decisions on how to use those resources.

Why does scarcity exist? ›

Scarcity exists because we have limited resources and unlimited wants. No society has ever had enough resources to produce all the goods and services its members wanted. Because of scarcity, all decisions involve costs.

Why is what we want scarce? ›

Since human wants are unlimited, and resources used to satisfy those wants are limited - there is scarcity. Even in the US, one of the richest countries in the world, there is scarcity -- if we use our new definition of SCARCITY.

What is one way to solve scarcity? ›

Scarcity, therefore, is not a problem that can be solved, but it is a condition that people can address in a rational manner in order to improve their lives. How? By making choices. Since resources are scarce in relation to wants, people must decide how they will use those resources.

How do people respond to scarcity? ›

When people perceive themselves to be lacking in something important, such as money or time, it can lead to a range of psychological and behavioral responses. Some of the common effects of scarcity include: Tunnel vision: When people are preoccupied with their limited resources, they tend to focus only on.

How do you beat scarcity? ›

Below are 7 tips for overcoming a scarcity mindset:
  1. Practice Gratitude. When we practice gratitude, we focus on the things we are grateful for and recognize that we have enough. ...
  2. Consider Therapy. ...
  3. Seek Support From Loved Ones. ...
  4. Manage Your Finances. ...
  5. Stay Physically Active. ...
  6. Meditate. ...
  7. Reframe Your Thinking & Gain Control.
Mar 24, 2023

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