The author needs to spend some time in one of the many economic wastelands of the world. Many forms of material scarcity are just around the corner as the consequences of global warming start become apparent. Add to that stupid exercises such as Brexit and you now have additional, real economic scarcity due to an exodus of European skilled labour. Scarcity of attention doesn't come into it.
Ford paid his workers decent wages so that they could afford to buy his cars. Low pay leads to economic ruin in the long run - a fact the UK is now waking up to.
