Are you some sort of alien? Our planet? I don't trust you... Salt water! We never have enough of that...
a silly guy
profeteering
Obviousaly it depends on what part of the planet you are on but in Australia iron ore is plentiful.
4 Economics
When supply is plentiful, prices fall, when items are scarce, the price rises.
This agency monitored the rationing of scarce consumer items.
4 economics
economics
4 Economics
4 Economics
According to the economic theory of scarcity literally all products are technically scarce because production is limited but certain items are exceptionally scarce. gold products, diamonds, truffles, petroleum products, services that are scarce now include, horse ferrior, watch makers and any other antiquated trade
The single word answer is: Speculation. People buy scarce items hoping they will become valuable in the future. Gold is scarce considering only 2% of all gold that exists in the earth has been dug up. With that in mind, consider the people who bought gold in 2001 when it cost about $270 per ounce. They speculated gold prices would increase over time. Their speculation earned them an increase in price of about 518%, and they made $1150 for each ounce they bought. That is a huge increase. So buying scarce items now just might these people rich, or at least they will make some increase on their speculation.