---
entity_slug: economic_opportunity_cost
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T05:11:13.704041'
overall_score: 4.4
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly captures the specific concept of foregone benefits
    from limited market access and specialization constraints. While it could be slightly
    more precise about the causal mechanism, it avoids circularity and distinguishes
    this from general opportunity cost by focusing on market extent limitations.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is directly grounded in Smith's text from Book I, Chapter
    3, with specific examples cited (the highland nailer, farmers as butchers/bakers/brewers).
    The concept emerges naturally from Smith's discussion of how market size constraints
    force suboptimal resource allocation.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: '"General Theory" is the appropriate domain placement as this concept
    represents a fundamental theoretical principle about market functioning and specialization
    constraints. It''s not sector-specific but rather a core mechanism in Smith''s
    economic framework.'
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity has moderate VSM relevance, primarily relating to S4 (intelligence/adaptation)
    as it concerns environmental constraints limiting system optimization, and S1
    (operations) regarding production efficiency. However, it's somewhat abstract
    and doesn't map cleanly to a single VSM system.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity provides significant explanatory power by illuminating the
    structural relationship between market extent and economic efficiency. It reveals
    a key mechanism in Smith's theory about how geographic and institutional constraints
    create systematic inefficiencies through forced self-sufficiency.
---

# Evaluation: Economic Opportunity Cost

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly captures the specific concept of foregone benefits from limited market access and specialization constraints. While it could be slightly more precise about the causal mechanism, it avoids circularity and distinguishes this from general opportunity cost by focusing on market extent limitations.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is directly grounded in Smith's text from Book I, Chapter 3, with specific examples cited (the highland nailer, farmers as butchers/bakers/brewers). The concept emerges naturally from Smith's discussion of how market size constraints force suboptimal resource allocation.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

"General Theory" is the appropriate domain placement as this concept represents a fundamental theoretical principle about market functioning and specialization constraints. It's not sector-specific but rather a core mechanism in Smith's economic framework.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

This entity has moderate VSM relevance, primarily relating to S4 (intelligence/adaptation) as it concerns environmental constraints limiting system optimization, and S1 (operations) regarding production efficiency. However, it's somewhat abstract and doesn't map cleanly to a single VSM system.

## explanatory_value — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity provides significant explanatory power by illuminating the structural relationship between market extent and economic efficiency. It reveals a key mechanism in Smith's theory about how geographic and institutional constraints create systematic inefficiencies through forced self-sufficiency.
