In the context of scarcity and choice, how does a family budget illustrate the concept of scarcity, and what role does income play in this process?

• A. A family budget forces choices because limited income means not all wants can be satisfied, requiring prioritization of spending.
• B. A family budget eliminates scarcity by allowing families to buy everything they desire regardless of income.
• C. Income has no impact on a family budget since all families face the same level of scarcity.
• D. A family budget is only used to track expenses and does not relate to scarcity or choice.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of scarcity: Scarcity means that resources (such as money) are limited, while wants and needs are unlimited. This forces individuals or families to make choices about how to allocate their limited resources.
2. Recognize that a family budget represents the limited income available to the family, which is a scarce resource. The budget shows how much money the family has to spend on various goods and services.
3. Identify that because income is limited, the family cannot satisfy all their wants and needs simultaneously. This limitation requires the family to prioritize spending, deciding which items are more important or urgent.
4. See that the family budget is a tool that helps manage scarcity by organizing income and expenses, making it clear that choices must be made to stay within the income limit.
5. Conclude that income plays a crucial role in illustrating scarcity because it sets the boundary for what the family can afford, directly influencing the choices and trade-offs the family must make.