Short Answer
Technology improvement is the primary factor influencing the quantity of a product or service, enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs, leading to greater supply at consistent prices. This shift in the supply curve results in lower consumer prices, increased product availability, and improved quality, while secondary factors like advertising and household income primarily impact demand rather than supply.
Step 1: Understand the Role of Technology Improvement
The most significant factor affecting changes in the quantity of a product or service is technology improvement. This advancement enhances production processes and can lead to:
- Reduction in the costs of inputs.
- Increased production efficiency.
- Greater supply at consistent prices.
Step 2: Technology’s Impact on Supply
Technology improvements directly shift the supply curve, indicating an increase in supply. As production efficiency increases, companies can respond to market demands more effectively, which often leads to:
- Lower prices for consumers.
- Higher availability of products in the market.
- Improved quality of products or services offered.
Step 3: Recognize Other Influencing Factors
While factors like advertising, population growth, and household income play a role in influencing demand, they do not significantly affect supply changes like technology advancements do. To summarize these secondary factors:
- Advertising can boost consumer awareness.
- Population increases can expand market size.
- Higher household incomes may promote greater demand.