Why did command economies contribute to the end of the Cold War? They outperformed market economies in productivity and innovation. They eliminated poverty and class distinctions , strengthening the Soviet Union. They faced inefficiencies and shortages that weakened the Soviet Union They encouraged global trade, reducing tensions between nations.

The question is asking about the role of command economies in the end of the Cold War. The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies, the Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc, after World War II. The options provided are:<br /><br />1. They outperformed market economies in productivity and innovation.<br />2. They eliminated poverty and class distinctions, strengthening the Soviet Union.<br />3. They faced inefficiencies and shortages that weakened the Soviet Union.<br />4. They encouraged global trade, reducing tensions between nations.<br /><br />Option 1 is incorrect because command economies, characterized by central planning and state ownership of resources, generally do not outperform market economies in terms of productivity and innovation. Market economies, where decisions regarding investment, production, and distribution are driven by individuals or corporations in the market rather than by a central government, tend to have higher productivity and innovation rates.<br /><br />Option 2 is also incorrect. While command economies aimed to eliminate class distinctions, they did not necessarily eliminate poverty. In fact, many command economies, including the Soviet Union, faced significant economic challenges and did not successfully eliminate poverty or class distinctions.<br /><br />Option 3 is the correct answer. Command economies, like the one in the Soviet Union, faced significant inefficiencies and shortages. The central planning mechanism often failed to accurately predict consumer demand, leading to shortages of certain goods and surpluses of others. This inefficiency weakened the Soviet Union's economy and contributed to its eventual collapse, marking the end of the Cold War.<br /><br />Option 4 is incorrect because command economies generally do not encourage global trade. In fact, they often had limited engagement in global trade due to their economic structure and political tensions.<br /><br />In conclusion, the inefficiencies and shortages faced by command economies, particularly the Soviet Union's command economy, played a significant role in weakening the Soviet Union and contributing to the end of the Cold War.