Which forms of scarcity are most often faced by single-mother families compared with two-parent families?

• A. Money only
• B. Time only
• C. Social capital only
• D. Money, Time, and Social Capital

Answer: (D)

Scarcity in multiple types of resources tends to be greater for single-mother families than for two-parent families. Financial resources are often tighter because there is only one income to support the household, which increases financial strain from costs like housing, food, and especially childcare. Time becomes more scarce because the parent must cover both paid work and all caregiving and household responsibilities, often with fewer options for affordable, reliable childcare or flexible work arrangements. Social capital—the networks and resources available through friends, family, and community connections—also tends to be more limited when there isn’t a partner to share tasks with or to provide informal support, making it harder to arrange childcare, transportation, or emotional and practical help.

All three forms—money, time, and social capital—tend to be constrained for single mothers more than for two-parent families, so the best answer includes each of these resource types. In two-parent households, the presence of two incomes, shared caregiving duties, and potentially broader support networks generally reduce scarcity across these domains.