📚 Opportunity Cost | 机会成本
In economics, every decision involves a trade‑off. Because resources are scarce, choosing to do one thing means giving up the next best alternative. This core idea is called opportunity cost. Understanding opportunity cost helps individuals, businesses and governments make better choices.
在经济学中，每一个决策都涉及权衡取舍。由于资源是稀缺的，选择做一件事意味着放弃次优的替代选项。这一核心概念被称为机会成本。理解机会成本有助于个人、企业和政府做出更明智的选择。
1. Introduction to Opportunity Cost | 机会成本简介
In everyday language, 'cost' usually refers to the money paid for a good or service. In economics, however, cost has a broader and more meaningful interpretation. Opportunity cost is the foundation of economic decision‑making because it recognises that every choice involves a sacrifice. Whenever resources such as time, money or labour are used in one way, the benefits that could have been gained from the next best alternative use are given up. This cost is not always measured in money — it can include time, satisfaction or any forgone benefit. Understanding opportunity cost is the first step towards thinking like an economist.
在日常语言中，“成本”通常指为商品或服务支付的金钱。但在经济学中，成本有着更广泛、更有意义的解释。机会成本是经济决策的基础，因为它认识到每一个选择都包含着牺牲。每当时间、金钱或劳动等资源被用于某一用途时，人们就放弃了次优替代用途本可带来的收益。这种成本并不总能用金钱衡量——它可能包括时间、满足感或任何被放弃的收益。理解机会成本是像经济学家一样思考的第一步。
Economists often say 'there is no such thing as a free lunch'. This expression captures the essence of opportunity cost — even if something appears free, scarce resources were used to provide it, meaning another desirable thing was sacrificed.
经济学家常说“天下没有免费的午餐”。这句话抓住了机会成本的本质——即便某样东西看上去是免费的，提供它也需要使用稀缺资源，这意味着另一件想要的东西被牺牲了。
2. The Basic Economic Problem: Scarcity and Choice | 基本经济问题：稀缺性与选择
Scarcity is the fundamental economic problem. Human wants are unlimited, but the resources available to satisfy them — land, labour, capital and enterprise — are limited. Because of scarcity, individuals, firms and governments must make choices. Each choice requires giving up something else. It is only because resources have alternative uses that opportunity cost arises. Without scarcity, every want could be satisfied and there would be no need to choose; consequently, there would be no opportunity cost.
稀缺性是基本的经济问题。人类的欲望是无限的，但用来满足这些欲望的资源——土地、劳动、资本和企业家才能——是有限的。由于稀缺性，个人、企业和政府必须做出选择。每一个选择都要求放弃其他东西。正是因为资源具有替代用途，机会成本才得以产生。如果没有稀缺性，每一种欲望都可以被满足，也就无需做出选择；因此，也就不会有机会成本。
3. Defining Opportunity Cost | 定义机会成本
Opportunity cost is defined as the cost of the next best alternative foregone. It is not simply the sum of all alternatives given up, but specifically the value of the single next most desirable option. For example, a student who has a free evening can either study for an economics test, watch a film with friends or go to the gym. If the student decides to study, the opportunity cost is the enjoyment and relaxation from watching the film, provided that was the next preferred activity, not the gym session.
机会成本被定义为放弃的次优替代选项的成本。它不仅仅是所有被放弃选项的总和，而是特指第二个最想得到的那个选项的价值。例如，一个学生有一个自由的晚上，可以复习经济学考试、和朋友看电影或者去健身房。如果学生决定学习，那么机会成本就是看电影带来的享受和放松——假设看电影是第二喜欢的活动，而不是去健身房。
This cost may or may not involve a direct monetary payment. If the cinema ticket would have cost £10, that is part of the opportunity cost, but the true cost also includes the pleasure lost.
这种成本可能涉及直接的货币支出，也可能不涉及。如果电影票要花10英镑，这是机会成本的一部分，但真正的成本还包括所失去的快乐。
4. Opportunity Cost and the Consumer | 消费者与机会成本
Consumers constantly face opportunity costs because their incomes and time are limited. When a household decides to spend £500 on a new laptop, the opportunity cost could be a weekend trip that the same £500 could have funded. Similarly, if a person chooses to spend an hour exercising instead of working overtime, the opportunity cost is the extra income they could have earned. Understanding these trade‑offs helps consumers make more rational and satisfying decisions.
消费者时刻都面临机会成本，因为他们的收入和时间是有限的。当一个家庭决定花500英镑购买一台新笔记本电脑时，机会成本可能是用同样500英镑能够支付的一次周末旅行。同样，如果一个人选择花一小时锻炼而不是加班，机会成本就是他们本可以赚取的额外收入。理解这些权衡有助于消费者做出更理性、更满意的决策。
Even the decision to save money has an opportunity cost. By saving today, a consumer gives up current consumption for the promise of future consumption. The opportunity cost is the goods and services that could be enjoyed now.
甚至储蓄的决定也有机会成本。通过今天储蓄，消费者为了未来消费的承诺而放弃了当前的消费。机会成本就是现在就能够享用的商品和服务。
5. Opportunity Cost and the Producer | 生产者与机会成本
Firms also must consider opportunity costs when allocating their scarce resources. A factory that can produce either bicycles or scooters with the same machinery and workers will face a trade‑off. If it decides to produce 100 bicycles, the opportunity cost is the profit from the best‑selling scooter model it could have made instead. Effective managers compare the expected return from each alternative to ensure resources are used in the most profitable way.
企业在分配稀缺资源时也必须考虑机会成本。一家可以使用相同机器和工人生产自行车或踏板车的工厂将面临权衡取舍。如果它决定生产100辆自行车，机会成本就是它本可以生产的最畅销踏板车型所能带来的利润。有效的管理者会比较每一种替代方案的预期回报，以确保资源被用在最有利可图的地方。
In addition to monetary profit, opportunity cost for a producer can include intangible factors such as brand reputation or worker morale if choosing a certain project means neglecting another beneficial activity.
除了货币利润之外，生产者的机会成本还可以包括无形因素，例如，如果选择某个项目意味着忽视另一项有益活动，机会成本就可能包括品牌声誉或员工士气。
6. Opportunity Cost and Government | 政府与机会成本
Governments face huge opportunity costs when drawing up national budgets. Tax revenues are limited, so spending more on healthcare
Published by TutorHao | IGCSE Economics Revision Series | aleveler.com
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