Free lunch: Difference between revisions
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A '''free lunch''' is a mythical meal whose raw materials and preparation cost nothing. There is a saying, popular among [[economist]]s, that "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch" (TANSTAAFL). Even if one receives a lunch as a gift, the giver had to incur the costs of production. And even if one plucks fruit from a tree, a cost is still incurred in [[land]] (the tree) and [[labor]] (the effort requires to pluck the fruit). | A '''free lunch''' is a mythical meal whose raw materials and preparation cost nothing. There is a saying, popular among [[economist]]s, that "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch" (TANSTAAFL). Even if one receives a lunch as a gift, the giver had to incur the costs of production. And even if one plucks fruit from a tree, a cost is still incurred in [[land]] (the tree) and [[labor]] (the effort requires to pluck the fruit). | ||
Because it is common knowledge that there is no such thing as a free lunch, people are often inclined to view offers of "free" products with suspicion. Often, there is some sort of catch, such as having to listen to a sales pitch or fill out a questionnaire. | |||
[[Category:Concepts]] | [[Category:Concepts]] | ||
Latest revision as of 09:33, 4 September 2012
A free lunch is a mythical meal whose raw materials and preparation cost nothing. There is a saying, popular among economists, that "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch" (TANSTAAFL). Even if one receives a lunch as a gift, the giver had to incur the costs of production. And even if one plucks fruit from a tree, a cost is still incurred in land (the tree) and labor (the effort requires to pluck the fruit).
Because it is common knowledge that there is no such thing as a free lunch, people are often inclined to view offers of "free" products with suspicion. Often, there is some sort of catch, such as having to listen to a sales pitch or fill out a questionnaire.