Final answer:
The unintended result of the increase in industrial production in Germany during the late-20th century was increased economic competition that contributed to economic issues in the United States, including factory closures, wage stagnation, and higher inflation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Germany's increase in industrial production in the late-20th century had the unintended result of exacerbating economic issues within the United States. As Germany, along with Japan, became thriving economies capable of competing with U.S. industry, the American economy faced challenges like factory closures, wage stagnation, increased inflation, and a general sense of economic insecurity. This economic landscape made tax-paying American workers more skeptical of welfare programs, feeling these were contributing to their own financial difficulties to support others. Moreover, the increase in industrial production in Germany post-World War II led to some environmental concerns and social changes, such as shifts in labor patterns due to automation and computerization.