Complete Question:
A reference value involves comparing the costs and benefits of?
Answer:
d. substitute items.
Step-by-step explanation:
A price elasticity of demand can be defined as a measure of the responsiveness of the quantity of a product demanded with respect to a change in price of the product, all things being equal.
Mathematically, the price elasticity of demand is given by the formula;
The demand for goods is said to be elastic, when the quantity of goods demanded by consumers with respect to change in price is very large. Thus, the more easily a consumer can switch to a substitute product in relation to change in price, the greater the elasticity of demand.
Generally, consumers would like to be buy a product as its price falls or become inexpensive.
Hence, a reference value involves comparing the costs and benefits of items substitute items.
A substitute item can be defined as a product (item) that a consumer sees as an alternative to another product (item) and as such would offer similar benefits or satisfaction to the consumer.
For substitute products (items), the cross-price elasticity of demand is always positive because the demand of a product increases when the price of its close substitute (alternative) increases.