Prepare for the Social Studies Praxis Test with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations to ensure you are exam-ready!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


The fundamental economic problem stems from

  1. A. high unemployment and inflation

  2. B. scarce resources and unlimited wants

  3. C. lack of economic growth

  4. D. lack of competition and free markets

The correct answer is: B. scarce resources and unlimited wants

The fundamental economic problem arises from the basic reality of scarce resources and unlimited wants. In the field of economics, scarcity refers to the limited nature of society's resources, which means that there is not enough to fulfill all human desires for goods and services. As a result, individuals and societies must make choices about how to allocate these limited resources to satisfy their unlimited wants. This concept drives many economic theories and decisions, as it influences the production, distribution, and consumption of resources. Understanding this fundamental issue helps to explain why trade-offs and opportunity costs are essential considerations in economic decision-making. Each choice made involves giving up alternative options, which highlights the constant challenge of balancing limited resources with the desire for more than what can be provided.