In this brief excerpt, Charlotte Kemp defines scarcity as a limited supply of something desired and contrasts it with abundance, emphasizing that these terms only have meaning relative to their context. She illustrates genuine scarcity through concrete, often painful examples such as drought, homelessness, organ transplants, and limited seats on a plane or theater. Kemp then argues that much of the scarcity people experience is artificially created—social or economic constructs that limit access to resources, opportunities, or experiences. She warns that persisting in a scarcity mindset can lead to further restrictions and a self‑fulfilling cycle of lack, urging listeners to recognize and move beyond contrived scarcity paradigms. The passage serves as an introduction to her book Two Trains to Understand the World Today, framing scarcity as a central theme for understanding contemporary challenges.
