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The opportunity cost of a business decision is the value of the potential benefit of the next best opportunity foregone.

For example, if I have one £100 to invest, and I can invest in project A, which will return me a profit of £300 or project B, which will return a profit of £150, then I will choose project A. The total cost of the project is:

Cost of investment + opportunity cost = £100 + £150 = £250.

The £150 in the above formula is the profit I would have made from the next best option for my investment (ie, project B).

Since the total cost of my project (£250) is less than my profit (£300), then I have made the right decision. If I had chosen project B for my investment, my total cost would be (100+300=)£400, which is less than the profit of £250, and so I know I have made the wrong decision.

In deciding how best to maximise return on capital, one must always consider the opportunity cost of one's investment. It is important to remember that there is always the alternative of simply investing one's money in the bank, earning nominal interest (say 5%). If the expected returns are not above this rate, then total cost (including opportunity cost) will exceed the return on investment and so the potential investment should not be made.

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Q: How does opportunity cost enter in to the make or buy decision?
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What is the difference between real cost and opportunity cost?

Actual cost (real cost): Are those which are actually incurred by the firm in payment for labor, material, plant, building, machinery, equipment ,etc. Opportunity cost: The opportunity cost is the opportunity lost. An opportunity to make income is lost because of scarcity of resources like land, labor, capital etc., or the making of one decision over another decision.


What are the importance of opportunity cost?

Opportunity cost analysis plays a vital role in decision making process during selection of alternative projects because one project may be looks feasible in absence of opportunity cost but when considering the foregoing cost of any other alternative may make that project or decision unfeasible or vice versa.


What accurately describes how opportunity cost calculated?

When a financial decision is being made, the more choices you have will help determine the best opportunity. To calculate the opportunity cost, compare each opportunity based on a similar unit of measurement. This can be cash, weight, or products. Evaluate cost by hour, day, week, or year for each option. Evaluate each opportunity by what would be gained if you chose an alternative opportunity. Add up the costs associated with each opportunity. Make your choice based on which opportunity cost is higher.


Why does choice create opportunity cost?

choice involves selecting for which good or service to go for or the best alternative.


How could opportunity cost be examined?

Opportunity cost is the cost of the next-best choice available to someone who has to pick between several choices. It is a key concept in economics used to describe "the basic relationship between scarcity and choice". Opportunity cost is examined by selecting one option and then comparing the expected rewards of that option to the rewards of next option. If a company had money to invest in either marketing or production the opportunity cost of one would be the loss of benefit form not picking the other. For example if the company chooses to invest in marketing instead of improving manufacturing (its next best option) which would increased profits $100000 the opportunity cost of the decision is said to be $100000. If the company makes more than $100000 the company has made a good decision. If the increase in marketing does not make $100000 for the company the decision is considered not at as good as the lost opportunity-cost. It would have been more profitable to invest in the option not selected.

Related questions

What is the difference between real cost and opportunity cost?

Actual cost (real cost): Are those which are actually incurred by the firm in payment for labor, material, plant, building, machinery, equipment ,etc. Opportunity cost: The opportunity cost is the opportunity lost. An opportunity to make income is lost because of scarcity of resources like land, labor, capital etc., or the making of one decision over another decision.


What are the importance of opportunity cost?

Opportunity cost analysis plays a vital role in decision making process during selection of alternative projects because one project may be looks feasible in absence of opportunity cost but when considering the foregoing cost of any other alternative may make that project or decision unfeasible or vice versa.


What describes how opportunity cost is calculated?

When a financial decision is being made, the more choices you have will help determine the best opportunity. To calculate the opportunity cost, compare each opportunity based on a similar unit of measurement. This can be cash, weight, or products. Evaluate cost by hour, day, week, or year for each option. Evaluate each opportunity by what would be gained if you chose an alternative opportunity. Add up the costs associated with each opportunity. Make your choice based on which opportunity cost is higher.


The phrase choosing is refusing means what?

fifty fifty chance that it might mean this: individuals face an opportunity cost with each decision they make


What accurately describes how opportunity cost calculated?

When a financial decision is being made, the more choices you have will help determine the best opportunity. To calculate the opportunity cost, compare each opportunity based on a similar unit of measurement. This can be cash, weight, or products. Evaluate cost by hour, day, week, or year for each option. Evaluate each opportunity by what would be gained if you chose an alternative opportunity. Add up the costs associated with each opportunity. Make your choice based on which opportunity cost is higher.


Why does choice create opportunity cost?

choice involves selecting for which good or service to go for or the best alternative.


What accurately describes how costs and benefits are calculated?

When a financial decision is being made, the more choices you have will help determine the best opportunity. To calculate the opportunity cost, compare each opportunity based on a similar unit of measurement. This can be cash, weight, or products. Evaluate cost by hour, day, week, or year for each option. Evaluate each opportunity by what would be gained if you chose an alternative opportunity. Add up the costs associated with each opportunity. Make your choice based on which opportunity cost is higher.


How could opportunity cost be examined?

Opportunity cost is the cost of the next-best choice available to someone who has to pick between several choices. It is a key concept in economics used to describe "the basic relationship between scarcity and choice". Opportunity cost is examined by selecting one option and then comparing the expected rewards of that option to the rewards of next option. If a company had money to invest in either marketing or production the opportunity cost of one would be the loss of benefit form not picking the other. For example if the company chooses to invest in marketing instead of improving manufacturing (its next best option) which would increased profits $100000 the opportunity cost of the decision is said to be $100000. If the company makes more than $100000 the company has made a good decision. If the increase in marketing does not make $100000 for the company the decision is considered not at as good as the lost opportunity-cost. It would have been more profitable to invest in the option not selected.


Why must there be an opportunity cost for every choice you make?

There must be an opportunity cost for every choice you make because, it helps you choose the commodity you need most.


Did Canada make the right decision to enter WW11?

yes


How scarcity and choice related?

Due to scarcity, choices have to be made. Choices will be made after the opportunity cost of a decision is weighed up.Example: you need a drink. you have just enough for one can of drink. the choice is coca cola or pepsi. You want both - because you are human - but you have scarce resources - money. You have to make a choice. You choose coke - so therefore the can of pepsi becomes your opportunity cost - its what you could have had, but because of your decision, you missed out on it.


What is the benefits and costs derived from the choices you make?

the opportunity cost