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Economics glossary · When markets fail

Private cost

What private cost means in economics, as one of private, external and social cost, with an example and a question to test yourself.

Definition
Private cost
Private costs are the costs of production that a firm itself incurs and pays, such as its labour and material costs.
Example

Can you think of an example of private cost?

Test yourself

Can you name the three kinds of cost on an externality diagram?

Learn it properly: the module

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