ECONOMICS (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -When the government spends $15 billion on interest for the national debt, the opportunity cost is the programs the money might have been spent on, like education or healthcare. If you decide not to go to work, the opportunity cost is the lost wages.

Detailed explanation-2: -A student spends three hours and $20 at the movies the night before an exam. The opportunity cost is time spent studying and that money to spend on something else. A farmer chooses to plant wheat; the opportunity cost is planting a different crop, or an alternate use of the resources (land and farm equipment).

Detailed explanation-3: -Opportunity Cost Example Deciding whether to spend a gift card on a strawberry smoothie or a banana smoothie. Deciding whether to spend $7 every morning on coffee or consistently invest that money in a retirement account. Deciding whether to invest capital in refurbishing equipment or in better employee training.

Detailed explanation-4: -The opportunity cost of government spending on a particular program is the foregone benefit of increased spending on another program. For public goods, the marginal benefit of government provision can exceed marginal cost. Marginal benefit does not exceed marginal cost for all goods and services provided publicly.