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PDF
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Type:
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Working Paper |
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Author:
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Easter, K. William |
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Date:
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1980 |
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Agency:
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University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN |
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Series:
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WRRC Bulletin 103 |
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URI:
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https://hdl.handle.net/10535/3991
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Sector:
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General & Multiple Resources |
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Region:
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Subject(s):
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natural resources
resource management
scarcity
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Abstract:
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"A resource is said to be 'scarce' if there are competing uses for it. That is, if there is enough of a resource that one use does not preclude any other use, then there is no scarcity problem. Therefore most resources have some degree of scarcity and, hence, decisions must be made regarding their use.
"A resource which is available in such abundance that it is available in unlimited quantity for any use is known as a free resource. It is difficult to think of examples of 'free resources'. Certain 'gifts of nature', such as sunshine are sometimes thought of as free goods. However, even most 'gifts of nature', are scarce relative to demand for them."
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