Question

select the correct answer.
what could the us government have done to improve the economy in european nations before the great depression?
a. increase protectionism
b. decrease protectionism
c. export to european nations
d. buy european stocks

Explanation:

Before the Great Depression, high protectionism (e.g., U.S. Smoot-Hawley Tariff) restricted trade, worsening economic conditions globally. Decreasing protectionism would have promoted free trade, boosting European economies by increasing access to U.S. markets and reducing retaliatory tariffs. Options A (protectionism harmed trade), C (exporting alone doesn’t address systemic trade barriers), and D (buying stocks is not a government policy to improve broader European economies) are incorrect.

Answer:

B. decrease protectionism