The most accurate comparison of the economies of the Southern and New England colonies is:
The economy of the Southern colonies relied on growing cash crops, while the economy of the New England colonies relied on trade.
The Southern colonies predominantly focused on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo. In contrast, the New England colonies had a more diverse economy that included trade, fishing, shipbuilding, and crafts, as the region’s geography and climate were less conducive to large-scale agriculture.