填空题 The central problem of economics is to 1 people"s and nations" wants.
The problem we are faced 2 is that our resources, here identified as money are limited. The only way we can solve the problem is to make choices. 3 looking at our resources, we must examine our list of wants and 4 the things we need immediately, those we can postpone, and those we cannot afford. As individuals, we face the central problem involved 5 economics—deciding how to allocate our limited resources to 6 ourselves with the greatest satisfaction of our wants.
Nations 7 the same problem. As a country"s population grows, the need 8 more goods and services grows correspondingly. Resources necessary for production may increase, 9 there never are enough resources to satisfy the total desires of a nation. 10 the budget meeting is taking place in the family living room, in the conference room of the corporation board of directors, or in the chamber of the House of Representatives in Washington, the basic problem always exists. We need to find ways of 11 limited resources in order to satisfy unlimited wants.
A short time ago economists divided goods into two categories, free and economic. The former, 12 air and water, were in such abundance 13 economists had no concern for them. After all, economics is the study of scarcity and what to do about it. Today many of these "free goods" are particularly 14 expensive to use. Pollution has made clean air and water more expensive for producers who have to filter their waste products, for consumers who ultimately pay for the producers" extra costs, and for taxpayers who pay for the government"s involvement in cleaning the environment.
In the 1990s, almost all goods are scarce. Only by effort and money can they be 15 in the form people wish.