Relevant Costs Flashcards
(5 cards)
What is a relevant cost?
Future cash flow that differs between decision alternatives
Relevant costs are crucial for decision-making as they impact the choice between different options.
What is an irrelevant cost?
Cash flow that is the same whichever option is chosen
Irrelevant costs do not affect the decision-making process since they remain constant across alternatives.
Define opportunity cost.
Benefit foregone from the next‑best alternative
Opportunity cost is a key concept in economics that emphasizes the potential benefits lost when choosing one alternative over another.
What is a sunk cost?
Past expenditure that cannot be recovered or changed by current decisions
Sunk costs should not influence current decision-making, as they are already incurred and cannot be altered.