Step 1: Understanding marketing expenditure.
Marketing expenditure refers to the cost of advertising, distribution, and promotional activities undertaken to sell goods and services.
Step 2: Who bears the burden.
- The industry bears marketing costs because they must allocate funds to compete.
- Businessmen bear it as they invest in branding and sales promotion.
- Consumers also bear the burden indirectly because marketing expenses increase the price of goods.
Step 3: Option analysis.
- (A) Industry: True, but not the only one.
- (B) Businessmen: Also true, but incomplete.
- (C) Consumers: True, since the cost is added to product prices.
- (D) All of these: Correct, the burden is shared across all.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Marketing expenditure ultimately becomes a burden on all—industry, businessmen, and consumers.