Externalities

Scarcity is the fundamental condition shaping economic life, compelling individuals, firms, and societies to make choices among competing alternatives, the concept of opportunity costs. At the center of this decision-making process lies the concept of opportunity cost, defined as the value of the best forgone alternative. This article provides an in-depth examination of opportunity costs, moving beyond simple monetary calculations to encompass non-monetary dimensions, including time, attention, risk, and social relations.