scarce goods

At least in Russia, consumers could buy without coupons; the price was standing in line or getting scarce goods through "connections. "

至少在俄国，人们不用拿着配给券买东西，明码标价，价位统一，若有紧俏商品需求，他们靠走走关系获取。

problem-solving in a social context, such as how to distribute scarce goods or defend the clan;

其三是在社会大背景下解决问题的过程，比如如何在物资紧缺是分发产品和如何保卫自己的家族；

I have a point: but all that is "life-saving medicine" is not the scarce goods.

笔者有一个观点：但凡是“救命药”都不该是紧缺品。

Far better, if possible, to let this work: not only are high prices an efficient way to ration scarce goods, they also encourage those capable of doing so to boost production, and thus, ultimately, bring prices down again.

如果可能的话，最好是让定价机制发挥作用：提高价格不仅能有效实现稀缺产品的限制供应，还会鼓励有能力这样做的供应方增加产出，最终再将价格降下来。

Another was the importance of personal connections in obtaining scarce goods and services.

另一后遗症则是私人关系在获取短缺物资及服务时变得特别重要。

Hundreds of lorries arrive from Tunisia every day, as well as private cars laden with scarce goods.

每天有几百辆货车从突尼斯开入，还有私人轿车携带紧缺物资进入利比亚。

When those scarce goods are vital for the smooth running of the economy (as oil is), it is natural for countries to get a bit desperate.

当那些短缺的商品对于经济正常运行至关重要时（比如原油），国家自然就会变得有点疯狂。