Resource scarcity is defined as a situation where demand for a natural resource is exceeding the supply – leading to a decline in available resources. When we talk about scarce resources, we usually imply that current use is unsustainable in the long-term. Scarcity can involve non-renewable resources, such as oil, precious metals and helium. It …
Definition: Scarcity refers to resources being finite and limited. Scarcity means we have to decide how and what to produce from these limited resources. It means there is a constant opportunity cost involved in making economic decisions. Scarcity is one of the fundamental issues in economics. Examples of scarcity Land – a shortage of fertile …
Readers Question Is the study of economics irrelevant in the absence of the concept of scarcity? It would make a good interview question. The difficult thing is trying to imagine what a society would be like if it had no scarcity. One thinks of the imaginary desert island, with abundant resources and a lone Robinson …
Over the next few decades, the Indian economy is forecast to become one of the world’s fastest-growing economies – adding an estimated $400bn a year to its GDP. During the twentieth century the Indian economy often struggled to increase living standards, but in the past decade has started to throw off the shackles of colonialism, …
Bottlenecks refer to the situation where firms are unable to meet demand because of delays, shortages and lack of spare capacity. Bottlenecks can occur from a spike in demand or disruptions to supply. They can lead to higher prices, inflation, shortages of goods and even lower economic growth. For many years, we have grown accustomed …
Over the course of history, the world has seen rapid population growth. It has enabled a rich diversity of culture, technology and improved living standards. However, population growth is increasingly coming at a cost – in particular to the environment. High population levels are contributing to the depletion of natural resources and causing widespread pollution. …