Question

Sally opened her own business and resigned from a job paying $25,000 per year. Her savings acccount pays 8% interest, but she withdrew $20,000 to buy some machinery which didn't fall in value. She could have earned 10% on the $20,000 had she invested it in another company with the same risk as hers. In adddition to the $20,000 her only other cost is $15,000 per year she charges her business as a salary for herself. In the first year her business made accounting profit of $12,000. Will other people having $20,000 in savings want to leave a $25,000 job to open a business like Sally's if their only objective is money?

A) They would be indifferent, as Sally's income net of costs equals $25,000.
B) Yes, because Sally's income is $27,000 but her costs are $20,000.
C) No, because Sally's income is $27,000 but her costs are $35,000.
D) Yes, because Sally's economic profit is positive.
E) Both (B) and (D).

Answer 1

A) They would be indifferent, as Sally's income net of costs equals $25,000.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sally's economic profit = accounting profit - opportunity costs

• accounting profit = $12,000
• opportunity costs = $25,000 - $15,000 in lost salaries + $2,000 (lost investment revenue) = $12,000

economic profit = $12,000 - $12,000 = $0

Since the economic profit is $0, Sally should be indifferent between running her own business or working for someone else.