Saving Private Ryan

Sample Solution

a) What costs and benefits were relevant to Tom Hanks’ character when considering the choice between “the mission and the man?” In his mind, could he rationalize whether the marginal benefits outweighed the marginal costs?

Captain Miller, played by Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan, faces a difficult choice: whether to prioritize the mission to save Private Ryan or the lives of his men.

The explicit costs of the mission to save Private Ryan include the risk of death or injury to Miller and his men. The mission is dangerous and requires them to travel behind enemy lines. They are also outnumbered and outgunned by the German forces.

Full Answer Section

The implicit costs of the mission include the opportunity cost of not using Miller's men for other missions. For example, they could be used to support the Allied advance or to rescue other soldiers.

The explicit benefits of the mission are the lives of Private Ryan and his three brothers. The implicit benefits are the morale boost that saving Private Ryan would give to the American troops and the positive publicity that it would generate for the war effort.

In Captain Miller's mind, the marginal benefits of the mission to save Private Ryan outweigh the marginal costs. He believes that it is important to save Private Ryan because it is the right thing to do and because it would send a message to the American troops that every soldier is valued.

However, Miller also recognizes the risks involved in the mission and the potential costs to his men. He struggles to rationalize whether the marginal benefits of the mission are worth the marginal costs.

In the end, Miller decides to prioritize the mission to save Private Ryan. He believes that it is more important to save a life than to complete a mission.

b) Describe a choice you made at some point in your life, and explain it in terms of marginal benefits and marginal costs.

A choice I made in my life that I can explain in terms of marginal benefits and marginal costs is whether to go to college or to start working right away after high school.

The explicit benefits of going to college include the opportunity to learn new skills and knowledge, to network with other professionals, and to earn a higher salary in the future. The implicit benefits of going to college include the personal growth and development that comes from living on campus, participating in extracurricular activities, and meeting new people.

The explicit costs of going to college include the tuition fees, the cost of books and supplies, and the cost of living on campus. The implicit costs of going to college include the opportunity cost of not working and earning a salary during those years.

In my mind, the marginal benefits of going to college outweighed the marginal costs. I believed that the investment in education would be worth it in the long run. I also wanted to have the college experience and to learn and grow as a person.

However, I also recognized the costs involved in going to college. I knew that I would have to take out student loans and that I would not be able to start earning a salary right away.

In the end, I decided to go to college. I am glad that I made this choice because it has given me many opportunities and has helped me to achieve my goals.

c) Can you think of a time in your life when comparing marginal benefits and marginal costs would have been inappropriate?

Yes, there have been times in my life when comparing marginal benefits and marginal costs would have been inappropriate. For example, when I was a child, I would often make decisions based on my emotions rather than on rational thinking.

For example, if I was playing with my friends and they wanted to do something dangerous, I might do it even though I knew it was wrong. I would not weigh the marginal benefits and marginal costs of the decision. I would simply act on impulse.

Another time when comparing marginal benefits and marginal costs would be inappropriate is when making decisions about life-or-death situations. In these situations, there is no way to quantify the marginal benefits and marginal costs.

For example, if I were in a car accident and had to decide whether to save myself or a stranger, I would not compare the marginal benefits and marginal costs of each option. I would simply make the decision based on my gut instinct.

In conclusion, comparing marginal benefits and marginal costs is a useful tool for making decisions. However, it is important to recognize that there are times when this approach is inappropriate.