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A sunk cost is a past cost which is not directly relevant in decision making eg development costs which have already been incurred. The principle underlying decision accounting is that management decisions can only affect the future.
A relevant cost is a future cash flow arising as a direct consequence of a decision. eg relevant costs are future costs
In economics and business decision-making, a sunk cost is a cost that has already been incurred and cannot be recovered. Sunk costs (also known as retrospective costs) are sometimes contrasted with prospective costs, which are future costs that may be incurred or changed if an action is taken.
Costs incurred in the past for the acquisition of an asset [or a resource] are called sunk costs. They cannot be changed, no matter what future course of action is taken because past expenditures are not recoverable, regardless of current circumstances. After an asset or resource is acquired, managers may find that it is no longer adequate for the intended purposes, does not perform to expectations, is technologically out of date, or is no longer marketable. A decision, typically involving two alternatives, must then be made: keep or dispose of the old asset. In making this decision, a current or future selling price may be obtained for the old asset, but such a price is the result of current or future conditions and does not “recoup” a historical cost. The historical cost is not relevant to the decision