Definition:
Artificial scarcity is the deliberate restriction of access, availability, or supply despite no genuine limitation in resources or capacity.
Usage Context:
Common in digital goods, games, limited releases, ticketing systems, housing markets, and platform features that could technically be abundant.
Critical Note:
Artificial scarcity manufactures competition and urgency where none is necessary. It converts abundance into leverage, forcing people to make rushed decisions or accept worse conditions to avoid exclusion.
Related Terms:
Artificial Rarity, Enclosure, Value Extraction, Consumerism, Platform Power