Which scenario reflects the concept of opportunity cost?

The concept of opportunity cost is centered around the idea that when you choose one option, you forgo the potential benefits of other alternatives. In the scenario where savings are used to invest in a business, the opportunity cost represents what could have been done with those savings instead. For example, the owner could have left the money in a savings account to earn interest or used it for personal expenses.

By choosing to invest in the business, the individual is prioritizing potential business growth and profits over these other possibilities. Thus, this choice embodies the core of opportunity cost, as it illustrates the trade-off between the chosen investment and the alternatives that are given up. The other scenarios focus on operational decisions or cost management rather than the fundamental trade-off inherent in opportunity costs.