foregone earnings

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "foregone earnings" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in financial contexts to refer to income that is expected to be lost or not realized due to certain circumstances. Example: "The company reported a significant decrease in foregone earnings due to the recent market downturn."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Formal & Business

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

The estimated amount for the United States exceeds foregone earnings by a factor of 13.8.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

From these benefits one should subtract the additional private costs, which include foregone earnings.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Moreover, small firms are not required to pay all foregone earnings and contributions.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Top regulators make considerably less than what they could make in the private sector, and many consider board appointments as an opportunity to make up for foregone earnings.

Duke University

Second, by considering the age range between 18 and 67, Rouse downplays the foregone earnings of early school leavers, who may start working well before age 18.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

This approach was hindered by the fact that the specification of the investment period was not straightforward and by the existence of imperfect knowledge of foregone earnings.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Diversification is widely implicit as a form of self-insurance in which people exchange some foregone expected earnings for reduced income variability achieved by selecting a portfolio of assets and activities that have a low or negative correlation of incomes.

Environmental Systems Research

According to the White House's Council of Economic Advisers in 2015, it's estimated that Americans lose around $17 billion a year in foregone retirement earnings due to conflicted advice advisors may have given.1 While the report discusses the costs of conflicted advice, it is important to keep in mind that many financial advisors hold themselves to high professional standards.

Forbes

Finally, the EPA monetized the change in IQ points by using economic valuation functions to measure the foregone lifetime earnings per lost IQ point.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Thus, Becker decided to adopt an approach that assumed the cost of an investment in human capital as the earnings foregone and the rate of capitalisation as a weighted average of the rates of return on the individual investments.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

These young people are not only at risk for much-diminished economic prospects; they will cost society significant dollars in terms of lost human capital, foregone taxes on earnings and costs related to health, public safety and welfare assistance.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In economic analyses, clearly define the period over which "foregone earnings" are calculated to ensure accurate comparisons.

Common error

Avoid simply listing "foregone earnings" as another generic expense. Instead, emphasize its significance as a hidden opportunity cost representing the potential income lost due to a specific decision or activity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "foregone earnings" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. It is used to describe the concept of income that was not received due to a particular decision or circumstance. Ludwig examples show its use in academic and business contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

Formal & Business

20%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "foregone earnings" refers to income that is not earned because a different path was chosen. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable, and the examples provided confirm its common use in economic and financial discussions. When using "foregone earnings", ensure you're accurately calculating the potential lost income and presenting it as a significant factor in your analysis. Alternative phrases include "lost income" and "missed earnings".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Earnings forgone

Slightly more formal variation with the same core meaning.

Lost income

Focuses on the income that was not received.

Missed earnings

Emphasizes the failure to obtain earnings.

Potential earnings lost

Highlights the potential income that was not realized.

Unrealized income

Stresses the fact that the income did not materialize.

Sacrificed earnings

Implies a deliberate choice to give up earnings for something else.

Waived earnings

Suggests a voluntary relinquishment of earnings.

Earnings given up

Highlights the action of relinquishing potential income.

Income not accrued

Focuses on the failure of income to accumulate.

Revenue lost

Broader term that encompasses all types of lost income, not just earnings.

FAQs

How are "foregone earnings" calculated?

Calculating "foregone earnings" involves estimating the income that could have been earned if an alternative activity wasn't chosen. This often means considering potential wages or profits from employment or investment opportunities that were passed up.

When should I consider "foregone earnings" in decision-making?

You should consider "foregone earnings" whenever you're evaluating options that require a time commitment or prevent you from pursuing income-generating activities. Examples include pursuing higher education, starting a business, or taking time off work.

What's the difference between "foregone earnings" and "opportunity cost"?

"Foregone earnings" is a specific type of "opportunity cost" that relates directly to lost income. "Opportunity cost" is a broader concept that includes the value of any alternative that is sacrificed when making a choice, whether it is monetary or not.

What are some alternatives to "foregone earnings"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "lost income", "missed earnings", or "unrealized income" to convey the same idea.