Final answer:
Firms in a market economy are motivated to minimize production costs in order to maximize their profits. This allows them to offer goods and services at a competitive price and use resources efficiently.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a market economy, firms are motivated to minimize production costs because doing so will allow them to maximize their profits.
When firms can minimize their production costs, they can offer goods and services at a competitive price, attracting more customers and increasing their market share. Moreover, by minimizing production costs, firms can also allocate their resources efficiently and use the smallest total quantity of resources, which is beneficial for their long-term sustainability.