If that happens, we are forced to think about opportunity costs.

如果發生那種情況，我們就不得不考慮機會成本。

This is because when we look at the new opportunity, 

這是因為當我們審視新機會時，

we compare it with our current situation and think about what is at stake if we would go for it.

我們會把它與現況做比較，並思考我們如果接受機會，可能有什麼風險。

This often happens without us being able to see the full picture.

這通常發生在我們無法看到全局的情況。

Economists define opportunity cost as the benefit we forgo as we trade off one alternative for another, hoping we make the best choice.

經濟學家將機會成本定義為我們在希望做出最佳選擇得前提下，因為選擇一個方案而不選另一個所放棄的利益。

Although they are often less obvious and sometimes speculative, opportunity costs can be huge; therefore, learning about them makes sense.

雖然它們通常較不明顯且有時具推測性，但機會成本可能很巨大，所以學習相關知識是有意義的。

Imagine that we are trying to calculate the true cost of going to college.

設想我們正試圖計算上大學的真實成本。

One factor can be tuition, which, in our case, is $10,000.

一個因素可能是學費，在我們假設的情況下是 1 萬美元。

Since that's our only cost, you might conclude that the cost of college is $10,000 a year.

既然那是我們的唯一成本，你可能會有一個結論，也就是讀大學的成本是每年 1 萬美元。

But to economists, that's not quite right.

但對經濟學家而言，那不完全正確。

Because we have to add the money we could've earned by working instead of attending college.

因為我們還必須加上如果不去大學而直接工作可能賺到的錢。

Let's say that by working full-time in a local restaurant, you can earn $20,000 a year.

假設在一間當地餐廳全職工作，你每年可以賺到 2 萬美元.

The true costs of going to college are, therefore, $10,000 tuition plus $20,000 in opportunity costs.

那麼上大學的真正成本就會是 1 萬美元的學費加上 2 萬美元的機會成本。

By studying for a degree, we trade off $30,000 a year.

選擇攻讀學位，我們每年以 3 萬美元作為交易。

Although that's only half the story because it also goes the other way around.

雖然那也只是故事的一半，因為它也可以反著推論。

Assuming we go to college for 4 years, we trade off $120,000 for an education that leaves us with empty pockets, many ideas, and a degree.

假設我們上了 4 年大學，以 12 萬美元換取了空空如也的口袋、許多想法和一個學位。

However, once we are better educated, we might be able to make $40,000 as a manager instead of the $20,000 in service.

然而，一但受過更好的教育，我們或許就能夠擔任經理獲得 4 萬美元，而不是在服務業中賺取 2 萬美元。

In such a case, not going to college ends up being much more expensive.

在這種情況下，不上大學的代價反而要超出許多。

Do you understand the concept?

你理解這個概念嗎？

Show us!

展示給我們看吧！

Calculate the opportunity costs of a high school student who drops the idea of earning a degree in medicine and, instead, chooses to help in the family business.

計算一下這個機會成本：一位高中生放棄攻讀醫學系學位的念頭，選擇幫忙家族事業。

The cost for tuition and living is $2,000 a month.

學費和生活費平均每個月是 2 千美元。

It takes a total of 6 years to finish university.

完成大學學業總共需要 6 年的時間。

After obtaining her degree, she works in the field of medicine for 34 years, earning $10,000 a month and spending $3,000 on monthly living expenses.

她取得學位後，在醫學領域工作 34 年，月薪 1 萬美元且每月生活開銷為 3 千美元。

If she is entering the family business, she earns $3,500 right away for the next 40 years with zero living expenses.

如果她是進入家族企業，可以立刻開始賺取 3 千 5 百美元的月薪並持續 40 年且不需支付任何生活費。

What's, financially, the better choice?

那就財務角度來看，哪個才是更好的選擇？

Post your calculations in the comments below.

把你的計算結果寫在下方留言區吧。

This and all other Sprouts videos are licensed under creative commons.

本部影片以及其它 Sprouts 的所有影片都受創用 CC 保護。

That means teachers from all around the world can use them in classrooms, online courses, or to start projects.

那表示世界各地的老師都可以在課堂裡、線上課程利用這些影片，或用它們啟動課堂作業。

And today, thousands already do.

截至今日，數千名老師也已經在這麼做。

To learn how it works and download this video without ads or background music, check out our website or read the description below.

想了解其運作原理並下載無廣告或背景音樂的影片，請參考我們的網站或閱讀影片下方敘述。

If you want to support our mission and help change education, visit our Patreon.

如果你想要支持我們的任務並協助改變教育，請前往我們的 Patreon 頁面。

That's patreon.com/sprouts.

網址是：patreon.com/sprouts。