Final answer:
Buying stocks on margin contributed directly to the start of the Great Depression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The economic factor that contributed directly to the start of the Great Depression was buying stocks on margin. During the 1920s, many people bought stocks using borrowed money, often with just 10% down payment. When the stock market crashed in 1929, people lost their investments and the collapse of the stock market led to a chain reaction of economic problems.
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