ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Shortage

Hey kiddo! Let me explain what a shortage is. Imagine you and your friends want to share some candy, but there's not enough for everyone. That's what we call a shortage!

A shortage happens when there isn't enough of something - like candy, toys or even things grown on farms - to fulfill the demand. This could happen for many reasons, such as bad weather that affects crops or too many people wanting to buy a popular toy.

When something is in short supply, people may try to buy as much of it as they can before it's all gone. This can make the situation worse and cause prices to go up. So, it's important to try and find ways to manage shortages without panicking.

That's basically what a shortage is, kiddo. When there isn't enough of something, and people really want it, that's not a good thing. But we should try to be patient and stay calm until more of that thing becomes available.