Economics is grounded in the concept of scarcity, which ultimately means there is not enough stuff (e.g., food, movie theaters, healthcare) to go around. As a result, economic reasoning emphasizes making informed decisions about how to distribute goods and services efficiently and in ways that yield the best outcomes. It seems like a straightforward process, but this process is value laden — What do individuals value? How should we reconcile different values? This inquiry lesson sets the stage for wrestling with competing priorities at both the macro and personal levels.