Scarcity

We all know that we live on a finite planet with scarce resources, but our obsession with efficiency has also created artificial scarcity – and less resilience. Take the recent shortage of computer chips affecting the electronics and automotive industries. We blame the pandemic, but really this is the result of a decades-long pursuit of just-in-time inventory management. Big brand companies outsource production and keep close to zero stock. That saves money, but it also means there are no products available when crises disrupt production. This a classic lesson in resilience, where systems always require slack capacity or built-in redundancy.

— Wayne Visser

From Purpose Inspired: Reflections on Conscious Living, Volume 5. Buy on Lulu ↗