The worldwide interdependence of resource supplies, product markets, and business competition characterizes the age of ___.

A) Trans-Asian management
B) the European Union
C) free trade
D) a global economy
E) the multinational economy

The phrase "worldwide interdependence of resource supplies, product markets, and business competition" is commonly used to describe the global economy, where businesses and countries are interconnected in various ways. Choices A and B are specific regions or organizations, while free trade (C) is a concept that can exist within a global economy but does not fully encompass it. Multinational economy (E) is similar to global economy but not as commonly used. Therefore, the best answer here is D, a global economy.