Board Thread:Wiki discussions and announcements/@comment-4881935-20140227190802/@comment-4881935-20140227212531

LionsLight wrote: What detemines the gold efficiency of lategame items, because they are clearly meant to be more efficient than the base values you're using (basic items).

Seeing how the core purpose of gold value is the comparison of basic tier items towards higher tier items, then if higher their items are meant to be more gold efficient, it will show that they are more gold efficient for their stats (with now an actual percentage) to basic items. Though, if the stats are more gold efficient, then it becomes how much the passive/effects needs to be to break even with the lower tier items.

So... I don't think I answered your question but that is my answer. Gold value's concept is about economics. In where materials are given a base value (such as 1 pound of meat equal to X amount of cost) and comparison buying 1 pound of meat, or one that gives 60 pounds. The cost has nothing to do with how tasty or healthy the meat is, or how you will use it. It only matters when you are deciding to buy it.