What is the sunk cost fallacy and how does it affect economic decision-making?

Economics Cognitive Biases Questions



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What is the sunk cost fallacy and how does it affect economic decision-making?

The sunk cost fallacy refers to the tendency of individuals to continue investing in a project or decision based on the resources (time, money, effort) they have already committed, even when the future benefits are unlikely or non-existent. It affects economic decision-making by leading individuals to make irrational choices, as they prioritize recouping their past investments rather than considering the potential future costs and benefits. This bias can result in inefficient resource allocation, missed opportunities, and overall poor decision-making.