Cost Separability and the Need for Allocation
Costs are either separable or not. Separable costs are easily traced to individual products and offer no particular problem. If not separable, they are allocated to various products for various reasons. Cost allocations are arbitrary. That is, there is no well- accepted theoretical way to determine which product incurs what part of the joint cost. In reality, all joint products benefit from the entire joint cost. The objective in joint allocation is to determine the most appropriate way to allocate that is not really separable. The primary reason for joint cost allocation is that financial reporting (GAAP) and federal income tax law require it. In addition, these product costs are somewhat useful in calculating the cost of special lots or orders, including government cost-type contracts, and in justifying prices for legislative administrative regulations. It is important to note that the allocation of joint costs is not appropriate for certain types of management decisions. The impact of joint costs on decision making is reserved for Chapter 17.