Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir explores the concept of scarcity, arguing that having less than we need not only creates practical limitations but also fundamentally alters our mindset. The authors posit that scarcity, in all its forms, from hunger to financial constraints, captures our attention, narrowing our focus and causing us to neglect important considerations. This "scarcity mindset" leads to tunneling, a phenomenon where we prioritize immediate needs, often at the expense of long-term goals and well-being. The excerpt also examines the "bandwidth tax", illustrating how scarcity depletes cognitive resources, impairing our ability to make sound decisions and manage our lives effectively. The authors propose strategies for mitigating the negative impacts of scarcity by recognizing its effects on behavior, managing resources more effectively, and designing policies and programs that are attuned to the constraints of a scarcity mindset.