What is opportunity cost?

Opportunity cost refers to the concept of the benefits that you forego when you choose one course of action over another. It highlights the potential value of the next best alternative that is not pursued. When making financial decisions, it’s essential to consider not just the explicit costs involved, but also what you are giving up — whether it's another investment option, time, or resources — by selecting a particular path. This understanding of opportunity cost helps in evaluating choices more comprehensively, ensuring that individuals or businesses can make informed decisions that align with their goals and maximize potential benefits.

In the context of the other options, the costs of investing in risky ventures, total costs in financial decisions, and financial obligations of an investment do not encapsulate the broader idea of opportunity cost, which focuses specifically on the trade-off between different choices rather than the costs associated with a single decision.