What is an Imputed Cost?

An imputed cost, also known as an implicit cost, notional cost, or implied cost, opportunity cost and implied cost. This refers to the cost incurred when an asset that can be invested is used or is serving another purpose. An imputed cost is a hidden cost, it is often incurred when an asset is used for a particular purpose instead of assigning it another function. Imputed costs are not direct costs, they are incurred in an obscure or unseen manner.

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How does Implicit Cost Work?

Oftentimes, imputed costs are not reported as distinct costs or expenses, in fact, they hold no primary importance when it comes to making vital policies touching management and budgeting. Unlike explicit costs that are direct costs and can readily be reported, imputed costs are dicey to estimate, they are hidden or implicit costs. This is why no formal accounting standards exists for reporting imputed costs. Imputed cost can be incurred by a business for instance if there are other ways to put an asset to use but the company decides to stick to the use of the asset for a specific purpose, by using this asset, implicit costs are generated.

Relate Topics

• Theory of the Firm
• Capital Formation
• Rent Seeking
• Structure Conduct Performance Model
• Integration
• Co-Insurance Effect
• Conglomerates
• Cost vs Profit Center
• Accelerator Theory
• Market Structure
• Fixed Cost vs Variable Cost
• Actual vs Implicit Costs
• Explicit Costs
• True Cost Economics
• Accounting Profit
• Economic Profit
• What are Factors of Production?
• Factor Income
• Production Function
• Fixed and Variable Inputs
• Short-Run and Long-Run Production
• Short Run
• Total Product
• Marginal Product
• Value of Marginal Product
• Law of Marginal Diminishing Product
• Production Function
• Production Possibilities Frontier
• Capital 
• Labor Theory of Value
• How the Production Function Estimates Inputs
• Factor Payment
• Economic Rent
• Cost Function
• Incremental Cost
• Marginal Input Cost  
• Fixed and Variable Costs
• Diminishing Marginal Productivity
• Costs Relate to Diminishing Marginal Productivity
• Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns
• Average Total Cost
• Average Variable Cost
• Marginal Cost
• Average Profit or Profit Margin
• Accounting Profit
• Economic Profit
• Normal Profit
• Short and Long-Run Production
• Cost Curves
• Long-Run Average Cost (LRAC)
• Production Technologies
• Economies of Scope
• Economies of Scale
• Diseconomies of Scale
• Minimum Efficient Scale
• Increasing, Constant, and Decreasing Returns to Scale
• Shape of the Average Long-Run and Short-Run Cost Curves
• Returns to Scale
• Diseconomies of Scale
• Long-Run Average Cost Curve Affect Industry Competitors
• Technology Shifts the Long-Run Average Cost Curve
• Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns