Let’s analyze the changes in world manufacturing percentages for the given countries and determine the most likely explanation for the drop in Great Britain's manufacturing share from 32% in 1870 to 14% in 1913.
We have three possible explanations:
1. Great Britain's economy could not sustain manufacturing.
2. Other countries started manufacturing more goods.
3. Great Britain started to become a service economy.
Now, let’s look at the data in detail:
Germany:
- 1870: [tex]\(13\%\)[/tex]
- 1913: [tex]\(16\%\)[/tex]
- Increase: [tex]\(3\%\)[/tex]
Great Britain:
- 1870: [tex]\(32\%\)[/tex]
- 1913: [tex]\(14\%\)[/tex]
- Decrease: [tex]\(18\%\)[/tex]
France:
- 1870: [tex]\(10\%\)[/tex]
- 1913: [tex]\(6\%\)[/tex]
- Decrease: [tex]\(4\%\)[/tex]
Russia:
- 1870: [tex]\(4\%\)[/tex]
- 1913: [tex]\(6\%\)[/tex]
- Increase: [tex]\(2\%\)[/tex]
Belgium:
- 1870: [tex]\(3\%\)[/tex]
- 1913: [tex]\(2\%\)[/tex]
- Decrease: [tex]\(1\%\)[/tex]
Italy:
- 1870: [tex]\(2\%\)[/tex]
- 1913: [tex]\(3\%\)[/tex]
- Increase: [tex]\(1\%\)[/tex]
From this data, we observe the following:
- Germany’s manufacturing percentage increased by 3%.
- Russia and Italy also saw increases in their manufacturing shares by 2% and 1% respectively.
- France’s manufacturing percentage decreased by 4%.
- Belgium and Great Britain both saw decreases, but Great Britain’s decrease was the most significant at 18%.
Given the information:
- Explanation (1) suggests Great Britain's economy could not sustain manufacturing, but the significant decrease compared to other countries, together with the increases in other countries, makes this less likely.
- Explanation (2) suggests other countries started manufacturing more goods. This aligns well with the observed increases in Germany, Russia, and Italy’s manufacturing percentages.
- Explanation (3) suggests Great Britain started to become a service economy. While plausible, the significant shifts in manufacturing shares to other countries strongly suggest increased competition rather than a complete economic restructuring within Great Britain during that period.
Therefore, the most likely explanation for the drop in Great Britain's percentage of the world's manufacturing is that other countries started manufacturing more goods. This aligns with the observed increases in manufacturing shares in several other countries during the same period.
Thus, the correct answer is:
Other countries started manufacturing more goods.
