Which of the following is an implicit cost of production?
a) the interest you pay your mother for the money she loaned you to start your business
b) the loss in the value of capital equipment due to wear and tear
c) the utility bill paid to water, electricity, and natural gas companies
d) the salary you pay yourself for running your business
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: d) the salary you pay yourself for running your business
Explanation:
In economics, costs of production are categorized into explicit costs and implicit costs.
- Explicit costs are direct, out-of-pocket payments for factors of production — such as wages, rent, utilities, and materials — that are recorded in the books.
- Implicit costs (also called opportunity costs) are the value of resources already owned by the firm and used in production, for which no actual monetary payment is made. These costs represent the opportunity foregone by using the resource in its current use instead of its next best alternative.
Let’s examine each option:
a) The interest you pay your mother for the money she loaned you to start your business
This is an explicit cost because it’s an actual payment made to another person. It is recorded and reduces accounting profit.
b) The loss in the value of capital equipment due to wear and tear
This is depreciation, an explicit accounting cost representing the allocation of capital expense over time. It is also recorded in financial statements.
c) The utility bill paid to water, electricity, and natural gas companies
This is a clear example of an explicit cost — a direct payment for services received from external suppliers.
d) The salary you pay yourself for running your business
This is tricky, but the key lies in whether the business is incorporated or not:
- If you’re a sole proprietor and do not actually pay yourself a salary, the value of your labor is an implicit cost, representing what you could earn elsewhere.
- If you do pay yourself a salary, it may count as explicit, but in economic terms, economists still often treat the owner’s time and labor as implicit if it reflects an opportunity cost rather than a market transaction.
Conclusion:
Among the options, d most accurately reflects an implicit cost, particularly in the context of sole proprietorships or when considering opportunity costs in economic analysis.
