If a country chooses to produce more consumer goods instead of capital goods, what is the opportunity cost of this decision?

When a country decides to produce more consumer goods, such as food and clothing, instead of capital goods like machinery and tools, it faces an opportunity cost. Opportunity cost is what is given up in order to make a choice. In this case, the country sacrifices the potential benefits and products that could have been created with the capital goods, which are important for future production and economic growth. For example, if a country focuses on making more toys instead of the machines needed to build cars, it might enjoy more toys now, but it could miss out on the ability to produce cars later, which could provide jobs and income. Thus, the opportunity cost is the lost chance to improve future production and economic strength by not investing in capital goods.