Question

business owners generally paid low wages in factories because

government regulation lowered production costs.

labor unions were focused on worker safety rather than pay.

they wanted to maximize worker productivity.

keeping wages low meant lower production costs.

Explanation:

Business owners aim to maximize profit. Lower wages reduce production costs, increasing profit margins. Government regulation usually doesn't lower production costs in this context. Labor - unions often care about pay. Maximizing productivity isn't directly related to paying low wages.

Answer:

keeping wages low meant lower production costs.