A monopoly, unlike a perfectly competitive firm, has some market power. Thus, it can raise its price, within limits, without quantity demanded falling to zero. The main way monopolies retain their market power is through barriers to entry, which prevent other companies from entering monopolized markets and competing for customers. Consider the market for electronics. Patents are granted to inventors of products or processes for a certain number of years to encourage innovation. Without patents, research and development needed to improve electronics are unlikely to occur, as nothing would then prevent other firms from stealing ideas and copying products. Which of the following best explains the barriers to entry that exist in this scenario?a. Control over an important inputb. Legal barriersc. Increasing returns to scale

The following selected circumstances relate to pending lawsuits for erismus, inc. erismus’s fiscal year ends on december 31. financial statements are issued in march 2019. erismus prepares its financial statements according to u.s. gaap. required: indicate the amount erismus would record as an asset, liability, or not accrued in the following circumstances. 1. erismus is defending against a lawsuit. erismus's management believes the company has a slightly worse than 50/50 chance of eventually prevailing in court, and that if it loses, the judgment will be $1,000,000. 2. erismus is defending against a lawsuit. erismus's management believes it is probable that the company will lose in court. if it loses, management believes that damages could fall anywhere in the range of $2,000,000 to $4,000,000, with any damage in that range equally likely. 3. erismus is defending against a lawsuit. erismus's management believes it is probable that the company will lose in court. if it loses, management believes that damages will eventually be $5,000,000, with a present value of $3,500,000. 4. erismus is a plaintiff in a lawsuit. erismus's management believes it is probable that the company eventually will prevail in court, and that if it prevails, the judgment will be $1,000,000. 5. erismus is a plaintiff in a lawsuit. erismus’s management believes it is virtually certain that the company eventually will prevail in court, and that if it prevails, the judgment will be $500,000.