Ermmm Americans...little help please?

Fr0Z3nWind · 02-10-2010, 01:47 PM

Ok i got this for my economics homework...

Question : America is a huge country with plenty of land. Does it have a land scarcity problem?

Economics term :
Scarcity means limited resources relative to unlimited wants.

**Belaslav** · 02-10-2010, 01:55 PM

In terms of limited land resourses, yes. Recent oil prices are an example of that.

**Ralath** · 02-10-2010, 05:42 PM

^I dun get your oil example...

I would say that America does have a land scarcity problem because even though there is a lot of land, there is only so much valuable land. (But I feel like this is a problem for any country...) Also, there are zoning restrictions and stuff that limit what and what you cannot build.

Question is kind of vague, though.

But I think with economics, you should be pretty comprehensive and argue it from several different perspectives.

Given that, this.
Given this, that.

**Belaslav** · 02-10-2010, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by Ralath

^I dun get your oil example...

I would say that America does have a land scarcity problem because even though there is a lot of land, there is only so much valuable land. (But I feel like this is a problem for any country...) Also, there are zoning restrictions and stuff that limit what and what you cannot build.

Question is kind of vague, though.

But I think with economics, you should be pretty comprehensive and argue it from several different perspectives.

Given that, this.
Given this, that.

You mean such the land with huge power line towers that is unused due to possible electricity hazard? I don't understand the question now.

**Hraesvelg** · 02-10-2010, 06:45 PM

We have about 3.8 million square miles of land with a population of around 305 million people. When you factor in things like utility of the land (beaches, mountains, national parks) with the knowledge that there are some farms, factories, and other large-scale occupation of the land, you'll get a better idea of the actual scarcity of the land.

**Ralath** · 02-10-2010, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Belaslav

You mean such the land with huge power line towers that is unused due to possible electricity hazard? I don't understand the question now.

I mean that there might be a lot in North Dakota or Montana, but one wants it...