This, to an extent, mitigates the supply constraint reason for the lower-than-expected sales but more people preferring to pre-order the device still remains a viable candidate.

FORBES: Overwhelming Pre-Order Demand Could Be The Reason Behind Apple's Disappointing iPhone 5 Sales

The shuttering of various European and U.S. northeast refinery operations of late due to unfavorable margins and a difficult lending environment could also eventually lead to supply-constraint driven gasoline price spikes when demand starts to pick up again towards the summer peak driving season period, say analysts.

FORBES: Spiking Summer Gas Prices to Ding Home Sales, Consumer Confidence

The offsetting of refinery shutdowns in the Northeast by, for instance, the expansion of Motiva Enterprises a joint venture between Shell (RDS.A) and Saudi Refining of its Port Arthur, Texas refinery to 600, 000 barrels a day, may also help prevent supply-constraint driven gasoline prices spikes.

FORBES: Spiking Summer Gas Prices to Ding Home Sales, Consumer Confidence

But, as Joel Kotkin and Thomas Tseng argue in a study on Latinos and the housing market, the constraint on supply also has a political dimension.

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The biggest constraint will be the supply of teachers.

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Yet the supply of talent may be the biggest constraint on the Indian industry's growth.

ECONOMIST: India