What does marginal benefit represent?

Marginal benefit represents the additional value or satisfaction gained from consuming one more unit of a good or service. It is a crucial concept in economics as it helps individuals and firms make decisions regarding resource allocation. When consumers or producers assess the marginal benefit of an added unit, they compare it to the marginal cost to determine whether the additional unit is worth pursuing.

In this context, the marginal benefit reflects the incremental advantage that stems from the consumption or production of one additional unit, making option B the correct choice. This notion is essential for understanding how various decisions impact overall utility and economic efficiency.

The other choices do not capture the concept of marginal benefit adequately. The overall gain from all units produced does not focus on the additional unit, which is central to understanding marginal benefit. Similarly, the cost saved on one unit pertains to marginal cost rather than marginal benefit. Lastly, total return from an investment encompasses a wide range of financial outcomes rather than the specific incremental value derived from one additional unit. Thus, option B accurately defines marginal benefit in the economic context.