Limited or plentiful resources? A fresh eco-social perspective.

From climate change and economic crises to migration and social inequality, we are confronted by a host of global challenges. At the heart of all these issues lies one of the most powerful narratives of modern economics and society: scarcity.

Scarcity is not just a matter of supply and demand. It is one of the most enduring myths of our age. The foundational assumption of economics—”resources are limited, needs are infinite”—shapes markets and every sphere of life. It affects everything from personal choices to global policies. This paradigm sanctifies competition while undermining solidarity, glorifies individualism while fraying social bonds, and fuels consumption while depleting the planet.

Today’s multilayered crises emphasize a stark reality. The narrative of scarcity is no longer a solution. It has become the problem itself. How can it be that we have unprecedented technological power, knowledge, and productive capacity? Yet, we are still grappling with poverty, hunger, and ecological collapse.

_{^{Redefining Abundance}}

In his recent book Abundance, Ezra Klein presents a radical yet hopeful option to the myth of scarcity. He writes, “The future can be built not with less. It can be built with more—if only we direct it with the right principles.”

Today, what we commonly understand as “abundance” is largely a product of the neoliberal model of overproduction and overconsumption. Produce more, consume more, and grow at all costs. While this model seemed to generate prosperity in the 20th century, it actually deepened inequality. It destabilized income distribution and devastated the environment. Now, it threatens the shared future of humanity. We are paying the price for this illusion of growth—with climate breakdown, social fragmentation, and existential uncertainty.

Klein’s vision of abundance, by contrast, is fundamentally different: one shaped by ethical, ecological, and social values. It favors depth over expansion, multiplies meaning rather than resources, and redefines prosperity in terms of human and planetary wellbeing.

This approach also draws on historian David M. Potter’s seminal 1954 work People of Plenty. He framed abundance not just as a material condition. It was also a cultural force:
“Abundance creates an environment that fosters personal development, social elasticity, and innovation. Scarcity, on the other hand, fuels competition, suppresses solidarity, amplifies individualism, and spreads fear.”

This perspective pushes us to see abundance not just as a quantitative concern but a qualitative one. It is not merely about how much we have, but how we live, with whom we share, and what kind of prosperity we create.

_{^{The Need for Eco-Social Transformation}}

True abundance can no longer be measured by economic indicators alone. We need a new understanding that also accounts for time, meaning, trust, and other deeply human values. This calls for an eco-social transformation. It not only protects nature but also upholds human dignity, social justice, and cultural diversity.

Sustainability sits at the core of this transformation. Until now, sustainability has often been framed around sacrifice and limitation. The real challenge is to produce a higher quality of life within ecological limits. We need more livable cities, more accessible healthcare, more inclusive education, and less uncertainty. Isn’t that what true abundance looks like?

_{^{Thinking in Terms of Potential, Not Constraints}}

The scarcity mindset shapes not only our personal lives but also political strategies. Anti-immigration sentiment, resistance to renewable energy, and distrust in innovation are common. These are all driven by the assumption that limited resources cannot support systemic change.

Klein’s argument centers technology as a critical tool. Today, we have powerful technologies at our disposal, from clean energy and biotechnology to digital infrastructure. But these tools will only drive real transformation if guided by ethical principles and public-interest governance.

_{^{Abundance as Hope}}

The abundance vision Klein advocates is not just a technical model of development—it is a moral and cultural call. It may seem difficult to implement today. For many, it might even appear romantic or utopian. But the direction in which the current model is dragging us is plain to see.

If humanity can break free from the narrow confines of the scarcity myth, we can embrace a solidarity-based vision. This vision is based on abundance. This vision helps build a society more resilient to climate chaos, inequality, and technological disruption.

Abundance does not mean simply having more stuff. It means more meaning, more fairness, more equality, more life. And that is what sustainability—at its core—truly means.