Austrian economic thinking was characterised by attributing all economic activity, including the behaviour of apparently impersonal institutions, to the wishes and actions of individuals. It did this by examining choices in terms of their opportunity cost (that is, what is the next best use of resources to that which is being considered?) and by analysing the impact of timing on decision making.
The model years 1991 through 2010 were traditional body-on-frame, mid-size SUVs. For the 2011 model year, Ford moved the Explorer to a more modern unibody, full-size crossover SUV/crossover utility vehicle platform, the same Volvo-derived platform the Ford Flex and Ford Taurus use. It is slotted between the traditional body-on-frame, full-size Ford Expedition and the mid-size CUV Ford Edge.
The maximum towing capacity of the 2007 through 2009 Ford Explorer is 3,500 pounds. Models from 2010 and later have a towing capacity of around 5,000 pounds when adequately equipped. This towing capacity increased in 2007 from the 2006 model, which had a towing capacity of 3,110 pounds. More recent models of the Ford Explorer require engine upgrades from the base 2.0-liter turbocharged engine to a V6 version in order to have the maximum towing capacity available. The base 2.0-liter engine on the Ford Explorer has a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds. The 2015 model comes with many options to assist in towing, including a rear camera, hill start assist and a sway control feature.