Final answer:
The invention of corporations spurred economic growth in the 1800s by providing limited liability to investors, leading to increased investment and industrial growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The invention of corporations significantly contributed to economic growth in the 1800s by allowing investors to participate in new ventures without risking their personal assets. This business structure offered limited liability, meaning that if a corporation went bankrupt or faced legal issues, investors would only lose their initial investment, not more.
This financial security encouraged more people to invest, which in turn provided the capital necessary for industrial growth and the establishment of new industries. By pooling resources from multiple investors, corporations could scale up operations, control entire production cycles, and employ large numbers of workers in factories, fueling the shift to an urban, industrial economy.