mark lai, a student of agricultural science in the developing country mikatra, notes that the demand for rice increased substantially over the last ten years. he attributes this to the substantial growth in population during this period. although rice cultivation in mikatra is still labor-intensive, mark observes that the inflation-adjusted wages for farm workers in the rice industry have more or less remained constant during this period, even though the supply of rice increased. this was contrary tomark's expectations as inflation in mikatra during this period was not very high.

which of the following, if true, is most likely to explain this outcome?

a. rice and other cereals form a smaller proportion of the food budget of higher-income individuals.  

b. the government of another major rice-producing country, langun, subsidizes its rice farmers to keep its prices competitive in the global market.

c. the government of mikatra has recently set a price floor in the wheat market.

d. following the recent removal of trade barriers in mikatra, the domestic manufacturing sector registered an impressive increase in output and employment.

e. people in mikatra mostly prefer the imported long-grained variety of rice.