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What does a free afternoon still cost you?

An hour can be free of charges and still be scarce. Choosing one use means giving up the best available alternative, which is the opportunity cost even when no money changes hands.

3–5 min

Questions you could explore

  • Why is the cost the next-best option rather than every option you rejected?
  • How would the opportunity cost of an afternoon change if your best alternative changed?

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Economics and money

Why can the official inflation rate differ from your shopping bill?

A national price index combines thousands of goods and services that no single household buys in the exact same proportions. Because the Consumer Price Index uses average spending weights, a jump in rent or groceries can hit your personal budget much harder than the headline inflation figure suggests.

4–5 min

Why can the official inflation rate differ from your shopping bill?

Economics and money4–5 minA national price index combines thousands of goods and services that no single household buys in the exact same proportions. Because the Consumer Price Index uses average spending weights, a jump in rent or groceries can hit your personal budget much harder than the headline inflation figure suggests.

Economics and money

How can insurance spread financial risk across a group?

An uncertain large loss for one person can become part of a wider pool of risks. Insurance connects that pooling with a contract and a premium, while the contract still determines which losses are covered.

3–7 min

How can insurance spread financial risk across a group?

Economics and money3–7 minAn uncertain large loss for one person can become part of a wider pool of risks. Insurance connects that pooling with a contract and a premium, while the contract still determines which losses are covered.

Economics and money

When interest starts earning interest

At a constant rate, compound interest repeatedly adds interest to the amount earning the next round. That follows a different path from adding the same amount each period; a hypothetical path is not a forecast.

3–7 min

When interest starts earning interest

Economics and money3–7 minAt a constant rate, compound interest repeatedly adds interest to the amount earning the next round. That follows a different path from adding the same amount each period; a hypothetical path is not a forecast.

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