Resource distribution refers the geographical distribution of resources. Resources are limited and finite and if the distribution of these resources is unequal, it can lead to conflict. For example, humans rely on natural resources for food, fuel, clothing, and shelter. Uneven distribution of resources can lead to conflicts and other human problems.
Humans depend on natural resources for food, fuel, clothing, and shelter
Natural resources are raw materials and energy that are used by people to meet their basic needs. These resources can include water, soils, fossil fuels plants and even air. These resources are used to make everything human, including food and fuel. They also use these resources for building houses, creating electricity, or producing raw materials that are used in industries.
The continued flow of natural resources is vital for the human economy. These resources include forests, fossil fuels, and arable land. These resources are capable of regenerating, but over-exploitation can lead to depletion. This can lead to lower quality life for future generations.
Natural resources have a finite supply
Natural resources are production factors that are derived from the natural world. These factors can be shared and are always free to use. Water, air, and soil are examples of natural resources. But not all of them are free. Some of them can be shared by all, such as forests and rivers.
Natural resources can only be created and replenished in nature. Although resources can increase and decrease in number, they are not always available in an unlimited quantity. Therefore, there will be a finite supply of any given resource at some point.
They are exhaustible
According to the 'cheapest first rule', deposits with low extraction costs should be exploited. If the lowest cost deposits are exhausted, then the cost of extracting one unit of resource should rise. Hotelling's d% rule predicts that the cost of extracting a resource will rise.
The theory of exhaustibility was first proposed in 1931 by Harold Hotelling. He noted that our increasing dependence on resources that are finite has led to a decreasing stock. Before we can understand what he meant, let us first define the concept finiteness. Three factors can define a finite supply of natural resources: the extraction rate (or replenishment rate), and the total stock. A resource will be depleted quickly if it is extracted at an increasing rate.
Uneven distributions of resources can cause conflict
Conflict has always been caused by an unequal distribution in natural resources. A more fair trade in natural resources would lead to a peaceful and sustainable world. But the current approaches for resource trade are inadequate. These trade agreements do little to address the root causes. The conflict potential is therefore high.
It is difficult to understand the relationship between conflict and inequality. While some studies have looked at inequalities within individuals, others have examined inequalities across groups based on their religion, ethnicity, or other differences. But it is evident that not all forms of inequality are equally important. Conflict can be caused by inequal resource distribution, both within communities and between countries or cultures.