Scarcity is an overstated reason for living conditions and also is an assumption.

Many third-world countries are rich in resources and resources, like Mexico, Venzeula(one of the top 10 largest oil reserves), Africa has alot of resources, India has a significant amount and yet they are  third-world. 

Compare this to Japan it has virtually no resources and is the third largest economy on the planet.   

What determines economic well-being of a nation and population is not resources, it's how they manage their countries. In INdia, Mexico, Vezenual, they are uncivilized, have a poor rule of law, disorganized, high crime rates,overpopulation and so on.  They don't as human beings do what is necessary and act in the appropriate way and make the right decisions in life and how they rule their nations in order to have a higher standard of living; it has almost nothing to do with scarcity.