SCARCE RESOURCE: A resource with an available quantity less than its desired use. Scarce resources are also called factors of production. Scarce goods are also termed economic goods. Scarce resources are used to produce scarce goods. Like the more general society-wide condition of scarcity, a given resource is scarce because it has a limited availability in combination with a greater (potentially unlimited) productive use. It's both of these that make it scarce. In other words, even though an item is quite limited it will not be a scarce resource if it has few if any uses (think pocket lint and free good).

     See also | scarcity | goods | services | factors of production | resources | market | exchange | price | opportunity cost | scarce good | free good | free resource |

SCARCE RESOURCE, AmosWEB GLOSS*arama, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2023. [Accessed: February 5, 2023].

Additional information on this term can be found at:

WEB*pedia: scarce resource

Back to the GLOSS*arama

A formal organization of professional economists that promotes economic research, organizes annual meetings and conferences, and maintains a list of publications in several economics subjects. The American Economic Association (AEA) was originally organized by a small group interested in economics at a meeting in 1888 in Saratoga, New York. However, as interest in the subject grew, it officially incorporated in 1923. Although the AEA contained only a small number of members in the beginning, today the membership is approximately 18,000. In addition, about 4,600 libraries, institutions, and firms subscribe to the quarterly publications of the AEA.

Complete Entry | Visit the WEB*pedia

Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time at a flea market hoping to buy either an AC adapter that works with your MPG player or rechargeable batteries. Be on the lookout for vindictive digital clocks with revenge on their minds.
Your Complete Scope

This isn't me! What am I?

-- Will Rogers

User Feedback