Existing scarcity

So what surmountable scarcity exists today?

All the usual suspects, and a lot applies as much to Western countries as it does to the developing world.

• Clean energy
• Clean water
• Nutritious food
• Medicine and medical facilities
• Decent housing in slum areas
• High quality, interesting education
• Safe and efficient transportation that doesn't contribute to changing our climate
• The facilities for people to do more things for themselves - we are too reliant on machines and products from big business
• Resources to get things done that need to be done - at a community level — sounds a bit woolly but covers uncountable worthy projects that simply don't get done through lack of funds or beaurocracy
• Quality - quality products, architecture etc.
• Time - people's time. Time to follow things important to the individual. Time for other people.

Causes

• Lack of appropriate technology
• Locked-up resources
• Short-term thinking
• Inadequate co-operation
• Self-interest (at many levels)
• Beaurocracy
• Lack of trust
• Ignorance
• and surprisingly in no small part - monetary economics

See also

• Post-scarcity age
• Mankind's fundamental resources