Final answer:
The answer to which scenario most likely involves a scarce good, in regard to clean air, is in a town with many polluting automobiles. This is because the air has dual purposes: for breathing and absorbing pollution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Clean air is a precious commodity and can often be scarce, especially in areas with high levels of pollution. The question asks which scenario is most likely to involve a scarce good in terms of clean air:
- Clean air in northern Canada
- Clean air in a town with many polluting automobiles
- Both of the above are scarce goods
- Clean air in mid city
The most likely answer is clean air in a town with many polluting automobiles, because in such an area, air is used not only for breathing but also as a receptacle for pollutants from cars, heat production, and factory operations. This makes air a scarce good due to its alternative uses: a fundamental aspect of life and a depository for waste. In places like northern Canada, clean air is more abundant due to lower levels of industrial activity and pollution. However, even in such places, clean air can be considered scarce because of its vital importance and potential for pollution.
In highly populated urban areas, the scarcity of clean air becomes a critical concern. Cities like Los Angeles are known for their smog, and residents often have to check air quality reports before going outside. The presence of soot, hydrocarbons, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur oxides in the air we breathe is a stark indication of the scarcity of clean air.