Standard Economic Theory Asserts That Sunk Costs Are Irrelevant in Making

question 240

Multiple Choice

Standard economic theory asserts that sunk costs are irrelevant in making economic decisions, yet studies conducted by behavioral economists reveal that sunk costs often affect economic decisions.Which of the following could explain this observation?

• A)People measure the value of a good in terms of its purchase price.
• B)Even though sunk costs cannot be recovered, it has been incurred and therefore should be treated as part of the product's value.
• C)If consumers maximize their utility, it makes sense to consider the full purchase price of a product in their consumption decisions.
• D)Sunk costs have a higher opportunity cost than costs that can be recovered.

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Definitions:

Financial Reports

Documents that present a company's financial performance and position, typically including the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.

Accounting Distortions

Discrepancies that arise in financial statements due to methods of valuation, estimation errors, or misapplication of accounting principles.

Financial Ratios

Quantitative measures derived from financial statement analysis to assess a company's financial health, performance, and viability.

Conflicts of Interest

Situations where an individual's personal interests could improperly influence their professional decisions or actions.