If the tax laws changed so that only $$0\mathrm{.}50$ out of every $$1\mathrm{.}00$ of interest paid by a corporation was allowed as a tax$-$deductible expense, it would probably encourage companies to$...$

Select one:

a$.$ use more debt financing than they presently do$,$ other things held constant

b$.$ use less debt financing than they presently do$,$ other things held constant

c$.$ keep the amount of debt financing unchanged

d$.$ cease using debt entirely