Accounts Quote by Vandana Shiva
“When you take the entire system into account, ways of developing more of something in one dimension can actually create scarcities in another. If we say we have to increase production because people need more food, more housing, more meat, or more milk, we can make one thing grow in a certain way. But by doing that we create externalities so that there are scarcities in other related things.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Sustainable Development, 2010
Expanding production in one area often reduces availability of other resources, creating trade‑offs and externalities.
In simple terms: Increasing one thing can cause shortages elsewhere.
Key Takeaway
Consider systemic impacts before scaling up.
Themes
sustainability
economics
environment
tradeoffs
systems thinking
Mood
concerned
thoughtful
analytical
Type
advisory
critical
reflective
When to use this quote
- agricultural policy
- urban planning
- energy production
- food security
- climate mitigation
Key Concepts
externalities
resource allocation
interdependence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance growth with resource limits?
- What policies reduce unintended shortages?
A Different Perspective
May overlook benefits of targeted innovation that can mitigate scarcity.
