Final answer:
Of the choices given, a decrease in the prices of smartphones does not cause a shift in the supply curve. Price changes result in a movement along the supply curve rather than shifting it. Other factors, such as costs of production and the number of manufacturers, directly affect supply and cause shifts in the supply curve.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of supply and demand, the following factors will cause a shift in the supply of smartphones:
- An increase in the cost of producing smartphones: This will typically cause the supply curve to shift to the left, indicating a decrease in supply, as it becomes more expensive for firms to produce smartphones.
- A decrease in the number of smartphone manufacturers: This reduction in market players is also likely to shift the supply curve to the left, since there are fewer firms to produce smartphones.
- A per-unit government subsidy on the production of smartphones: This would generally shift the supply curve to the right, as the subsidy effectively reduces production costs, making it cheaper for firms to produce and supply more smartphones.
The one factor that does not shift the supply curve is:
- A decrease in the prices of smartphones: A change in the price of the product is a movement along the supply curve, not a shift of the supply curve itself. Price changes affect the quantity supplied but do not shift the entire supply curve unless they influence the production costs.