What constitutes a direct form of government intervention in business?

Providing price support for specific items represents a direct form of government intervention in business because it involves the government actively setting a minimum price for certain goods to ensure that producers receive a stable income and that these goods remain accessible to consumers. This type of intervention is aimed at stabilizing markets and supporting certain industries, often in agricultural sectors where prices can be volatile.

In contrast, options such as imposing regulations on prices and taxing corporate profits can influence business operations but are broader in nature and may not directly support specific products or industries in the same way. Setting salaries for public employees, while a governmental action, does not directly impact the market dynamics of private businesses as directly as price supports do.