Final answer:
The emergence of economic problems is primarily due to the existence of unlimited human wants and the scarcity of available resources. The 'invisible hand' is not a cause but a concept related to market self-regulation. Thus, the answer is a. 1 and 2 only.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors responsible for the emergence of economic problems are 1. the existence of unlimited human wants and 2. the scarcity of available resources. The correct answer is a. 1 and 2 only. The concept of an invisible hand, introduced by Adam Smith, does not refer to a factor causing economic problems but rather to the self-regulating behavior of the marketplace.
The term scarcity refers to the fundamental economic problem of having seemingly unlimited human wants in a world of limited resources. Because resources are finite, societies must decide how they are allocated, which inevitably leads to the need for choices and the concept of opportunity cost—what is given up when making a decision. This interplay results in different economic systems evolving to manage the production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services.