Which of the following helped spur the mass production of consumer goods?

• A. The development of assembly line technology
• B. The implementation of trade tariffs
• C. The rise of barter systems
• D. The increase in agricultural subsidies

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of mass production in microeconomics, which refers to the large-scale manufacturing of standardized products, often using mechanization and automation to increase efficiency.
2. Step 2: Identify the key factors that historically contributed to the increase in production efficiency and output, such as technological innovations and organizational methods.
3. Step 3: Recognize that the development of assembly line technology is a method that breaks down production into simple, repetitive tasks, allowing for faster and cheaper production of consumer goods.
4. Step 4: Compare the other options: trade tariffs affect international trade policies, barter systems relate to exchange without money, and agricultural subsidies support farming, none of which directly increase manufacturing efficiency.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the assembly line technology directly helped spur the mass production of consumer goods by improving production speed and reducing costs.