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ACCOUNTING COST: The actual outlays or expenses incurred in production that shows up a firm's accounting statements or records. Accounting costs, while very important to accountants, company CEOs, shareholders, and the Internal Revenue Service, is only minimally important to economists. The reason is that economists are primarily interested in economic cost (also called opportunity cost). That fact is that accounting costs and economic costs aren't always the same. An opportunity or economic cost is the value of foregone production. Some economic costs, actually a lot of economic opportunity costs, never show up as accounting costs. Moreover, some accounting costs, while legal, bonified payments by a firm, are not associated with any sort of opportunity cost.
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![](../images/a1.gif) ![](../images/b1.gif) ![](../images/c1.gif) ![](../images/d1.gif) ![](../images/e1.gif) ![](../images/f1.gif) ![](../images/g1.gif) ![](../images/h1.gif) ![](../images/i1.gif) ![](../images/j1.gif) ![](../images/k1.gif) ![](../images/l1.gif) ![](../images/m1.gif) ![](../images/n1.gif) ![](../images/o1.gif) ![](../images/p1.gif) ![](../images/q1.gif) ![](../images/r1.gif) ![](../images/s1.gif) ![](../images/t1.gif) ![](../images/u1.gif) ![](../images/v1.gif) ![](../images/w1.gif) ![](../images/x1.gif) ![](../images/y1.gif) ![](../images/z1.gif) ![](../images/nbr1.gif) RESOURCE ALLOCATION: The process of distributing resources for the production of goods and services which are then distributed for the satisfaction of wants and needs and human consumption. This is also commonly referred to by the single word "allocation." The resource allocation process is an essential part of an economy's effort to address the problem of scarcity Given that world is rampant with scarcity (unlimited wants and needs, but limited resources), not every want and need can be satisfied with available resources. Choices have to be made. Some wants and needs are satisfied, some are not. These choices, these decisions are the resource allocation process.EfficiencyAn efficient resource allocation exists if society has achieved the highest possible level of satisfaction of wants and needs from the available resources AND resources cannot be allocated differently to achieve any greater satisfaction.Three QuestionsThis whole resource allocation process is frequently viewed as answering three key questions:- What goods and services are produced with the available resources?
- How are available resources combined in the production of goods and services?
- For Whom are the goods and services produced?
Markets and GovernmentsResource allocation is accomplished through both voluntary market exchanges and involuntary government-imposed actions. Markets accomplish the process using prices, which create incentives for both producers and consumers. Governments address this process using regulations, taxes, and spending, which also create incentives among members of society.Both methods are necessary in a modern economy. Many resource allocation decisions are best made through markets, but some resource allocation decisions are better addressed using the coercive powers of government.
![](../images/aw_sm.gif) Recommended Citation:RESOURCE ALLOCATION, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2024. [Accessed: July 26, 2024]. Check Out These Related Terms... | | | Or For A Little Background... | | | | | | | | | | | | | And For Further Study... | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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BROWN PRAGMATOX [What's This?]
Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time at the confiscated property police auction trying to buy either a birthday greeting card for your grandmother or a coffee cup commemorating yesterday. Be on the lookout for telephone calls from former employers. Your Complete Scope
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John Maynard Keynes was born the same year Karl Marx died.
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"Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternative. " -- Cato, Roman orator
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COMECON Council for Mutual Economic Assistance
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