In economics, there is a concept named opportunity cost. Opportunity cost forces an individual to weigh the benefits versus the sacrifices of making a decision. Van den Haag believes people look at committing the crime the same way they would view an opportunity; they would weigh the profits versus the punishment.
The concept of opportunity cost implies that individuals must balance the pros and cons when making decisions. This notion is substantiated by Van den Haag's assertion that people view potential crimes as opportunities to be weighed against the potential costs or penalties.