Making The Most Of Scarcity

In this provocative book based on cutting-edge research, Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir show that scarcity creates a distinct psychology for everyone struggling to manage with less than they need. Busy people fail to manage their time efficiently for the same reasons the poor and those maxed out on credit cards fail to manage their money. The dynamics of scarcity reveal why dieters find it hard to resist temptation, why students and busy executives mismanage their time, and why the same sugarcane farmers are smarter after harvest than before. Once we start thinking in terms of scarcity, the problems of modern life come into sharper focus, and Scarcity reveals not only how it leads us astray but also how individuals and organizations can better manage scarcity for greater satisfaction and success.

"While water professionals have been advocating comprehensive water reforms for years and many countries have improved their water policies and institutions, some of the most politically sensitive elements of reform remain untouched. This report suggests that a series of factors are now emerging that represent a potential opportunity to break this impasse." "Making the Most of Scarcity will be of interest to readers working in the areas of agribusiness and markets, agriculture, urban and rural development, water supply, and water resources, as well as to those responsible for setting policies in the areas of environment, economics, and social protection."--BOOK JACKET.

Water in the Middle East and North Africa region is a source of major social and economic problems stemming from scarcity, variability, unreliable services, and environmental damage. The situation is likely to become even worse in the future, unless current practices change: by 2050 per capita availability will fall by half, water quality will deteriorate further, and more aquifers will become depleted. Climate change is predicted to worsen the problems by increasing temperatures and causing more droughts and floods. While water professionals have been advocating comprehensive water reforms for years and many countries have improved their water policies and institutions, some of the most politically sensitive elements of reform remain untouched. This report suggests that a series of factors are now emerging that represent a potential opportunity to break this impasse. Turning the potential into reality will depend upon three things: - Adopting reforms that respond to the dynamics of the political economy; - Recognizing that water policies cannot act alone, but that water outcomes are often determined by other sectors, such as trade, agriculture, finance, and energy; and - Choosing policies and practices that make government institutions and service providers more accountable to the public. 'Making the Most of Scarcity' will be of interest to readers working in the areas of agribusiness and markets, agriculture, urban and rural development, water supply, and water resources, as well as those responsible for setting policies in the areas of environment, economics, and social protection.

The report aims to provide a conceptual framework to address food security under conditions of water scarcity in agriculture. It has been prepared by a team of FAO staff and consultants in the framework of the project "Coping with water scarcity - the role of agriculture", and has been discussed at an Expert Consultation meeting organized in FAO, Rome, during the period 14-16 December 2009 on the same subject. It was subsequently edited and revised, taking account of discussions in the Expert Consultation and materials presented to the meeting. The purpose of the Expert Consultation was to assist FAO to better design its water scarcity programme. In particular, the experts were requested to provide recommendations on the range of technical and policy options and associated principles that FAO should promote as part of an agricultural response to water scarcity in member countries. The document offers views on the conceptual framework on which FAO's water scarcity programme should be based, proposes a set of definitions associated with the concept of water scarcity, and indicates the main principles on which FAO should base its action in support to its member countries. At the meeting, experts were requested to review the draft document and provide feedback and recommendations for its finalization. Issues that were addressed in discussions included: 3⁄4 Water scarcity: agreement on key definitions. 3⁄4 The conceptualisation of water scarcity in ways that are meaningful for policy development and decision-making. 3⁄4 The quantification of water scarcity. . 3⁄4 Policy and technical response options available to ensure food security in conditions of water scarcity. . 3⁄4 Criteria and principles that should be used to establish priorities for action in response to water scarcity in agriculture and ensure effective and efficient water scarcity coping strategies.

Why can we never seem to keep on top of our workload, social diary or chores? Why does poverty persist around the world? Why do successful people do things at the last minute in a sudden rush of energy? Here, economist Sendhil Mullainathan and psychologist Eldar Shafir reveal that the hidden side behind all these problems is that they're all about scarcity.

Why does a top-class chef, after years carefully perfecting her craft, create her best dish in just two rushed hours? Why are students less likely to miss tighter deadlines? Why are the terminally ill often happier than the healthy, and why do those struggling to make ends meet find it so difficult to escape debt? Here, economist Sendhill Mullainathan and psychologist Eldar Shafir reveal that the answers lie in the new and surprising science of scarcity. Scarcity is not just a word: it's a mindset. It connects many of the diverse problems we face in life, from why the overweight can't stop eating, to why insomniacs can't sleep and the lonely find it so hard to make friends. Folk wisdom tells us not to go grocery shopping on an empty stomach - because you'll buy the wrong sort of food, and too much of it. Now, the latest research in psychology and economics shows that when we don't have enough, not only do we make the wrong choices, our brains also change. We have less mind to devote to the rest of our lives, or, in other words, we lack mental 'bandwidth'. By understanding these problems, Scarcity reveals how we can improve our ability to achieve our goals, and even turn a lack of time or other resources to our advantage. If you've ever wondered whyy you can never seem to keep on top of your workload, social diary or chores, why some people are more successful than others, or why some of us have more than others, Scarcity will make you see that more isn't always more. 'Stars in their respective disciplines, and the combination is greater than the sum of its parts. Their project has a unique feel to it: it is the finest combination of heart and head that I have seen in our field.' Daniel Kahneman, author of Thinking, Fast and Slow 'A powerhouse duo. I consider Sendhil to be the most interesting young economist in the world ... Eldar Shafir is the most brilliant psychologist in the field of judgment and decision-making to come along since Kahneman and Tversky.' Richard Thaler, co-author of Nudge 'Scarcity is a captivating book, overflowing with new ideas, fantastic stories, and simple suggestions that just might change the way you live.' Steven D. Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics

Waste to Wealth proves that 'green' and 'growth' need not be binary alternatives. The book examines five new business models that provide circular growth from deploying sustainable resources to the sharing economy before setting out what business leaders need to do to implement the models successfully.

Water scarcity is an increasing problem in many parts of the world, yet conventional supply-side economics and management are insufficient to deal with it. One of the key water management options for water demand is water trading. This book explores the role of water trading, as an instrument of integrated water resources management.