---
entity_slug: agricultural_opportunity_cost
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T00:28:59.278632'
overall_score: 4.0
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly articulates opportunity cost as the value of foregone
    alternatives in agricultural production decisions. It avoids circularity and distinguishes
    this concept from general agricultural inefficiency by focusing specifically on
    the trade-offs between different uses of land and labor.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: While Smith does discuss inefficiencies in medieval agricultural systems
    and the benefits of market-oriented production, the explicit framing in terms
    of "opportunity cost" may be applying modern economic terminology to concepts
    Smith expressed differently. The underlying ideas about foregone alternatives
    are present but not necessarily in this precise formulation.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Production" domain is exactly correct for this entity, as it deals
    directly with how agricultural resources are allocated and utilized in production
    processes. This is a core production decision-making concept rather than belonging
    to exchange, distribution, or consumption domains.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity maps well to S1 (primary operations) as it concerns fundamental
    production decisions, and also connects to S4 (intelligence) regarding how farmers
    gather and process information about alternative uses of resources. The concept
    has clear operational relevance within a viable system framework.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: "The entity illuminates an important mechanism explaining why medieval\
    \ agricultural systems were inefficient\u2014farmers lacked the information and\
    \ freedom to properly evaluate trade-offs between different production choices.\
    \ This provides genuine insight into the structural causes of agricultural underperformance\
    \ rather than merely describing symptoms."
---

# Evaluation: Agricultural Opportunity Cost

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly articulates opportunity cost as the value of foregone alternatives in agricultural production decisions. It avoids circularity and distinguishes this concept from general agricultural inefficiency by focusing specifically on the trade-offs between different uses of land and labor.

## source_grounding — 3.0 / 5.0

While Smith does discuss inefficiencies in medieval agricultural systems and the benefits of market-oriented production, the explicit framing in terms of "opportunity cost" may be applying modern economic terminology to concepts Smith expressed differently. The underlying ideas about foregone alternatives are present but not necessarily in this precise formulation.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

The "Production" domain is exactly correct for this entity, as it deals directly with how agricultural resources are allocated and utilized in production processes. This is a core production decision-making concept rather than belonging to exchange, distribution, or consumption domains.

## vsm_relevance — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity maps well to S1 (primary operations) as it concerns fundamental production decisions, and also connects to S4 (intelligence) regarding how farmers gather and process information about alternative uses of resources. The concept has clear operational relevance within a viable system framework.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

The entity illuminates an important mechanism explaining why medieval agricultural systems were inefficient—farmers lacked the information and freedom to properly evaluate trade-offs between different production choices. This provides genuine insight into the structural causes of agricultural underperformance rather than merely describing symptoms.
