Firms are motivated to minimize production costs because: it is the most environmentally friendly way to produce goods./ least-cost production techniques use the smallest total quantity of resources. /competitive pressures in the market will drive out higher-cost producers./ the government provides tax credits and subsidies to low-cost producers.
The right answer for the question that is being asked and shown above is that: "the government provides tax credits and subsidies to low-cost producers." Firms are motivated to minimize production costs because the government provides tax credits and subsidies to low-cost producers.