Final answer:
The increase in the effective nuclear charge per electron is caused by the removal of electrons from the valence shell, as it reduces electron repulsion and increases the nucleus's pull on the remaining electrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer that results in an increase in the effective nuclear charge per electron is the removal of electrons from the valence shell. When electrons are removed from an atom, the shielding effect by the outer electrons is reduced, and the electrons that remain experience a greater pull from the nucleus. This is because there are fewer electrons to repel each other, and the effective nuclear charge on each remaining electron increases. Thus, the ionization energies also tend to increase due to this effect as we move across the periodic table.