Fonte: MWG, p. 131. é o conjunto de produção.
“The point in time at which production possibilities are being analyzed is often important for the validity of [the possibility of inaction in production]. If we are contemplating a firm that could access a set of technological possibilities but that has not yet been organized, then inaction is clearly possible. But if some production decisions have already been made, or if irrevocable contracts for the delivery of some inputs have been signed, inaction is not possible. In that case, we say that some costs are sunk.” (MWG, p. 130-1.)
Sunk costs tratam-se de custos devidos a decisões já tomadas e que, portanto, devem ser incorridos/tomados em conta — ou seja, não podem ser “desfeitos” — em uma decisão de produção de uma firma.
References
- MAS-COLELL, Andreu; WHINSTON, Michael Dennis; GREEN, Jerry R. Microeconomic theory. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.