In a scenario where a consumer is trying to maximize their utility given a fixed budget, how can the consumer assess the optimal combination of goods they should purchase? They should compare the marginal benefit of each good to what criterion?

To maximize their utility within a fixed budget, a consumer needs to look at the marginal benefit of each good they want to buy. The marginal benefit is the additional satisfaction or happiness gained from consuming one more unit of a good. The consumer should compare this marginal benefit to the price of the good, which is the cost of buying that extra unit. For example, if a consumer finds that the extra satisfaction from one more slice of pizza is greater than the price of that slice, then it makes sense to buy it. Ultimately, they should keep buying goods until the marginal benefit equals the price, ensuring they get the most satisfaction for their money.