discussion on what barriers exist to entry for potential competitors

discussion on what barriers exist to entry for potential competitors

After watching the video clip from Forrest Gump, consider that Forrest’s good luck of “being in the right place at the right time” allowed him to operate as a monopoly. Typically, the fishing industry is a highly competitive industry where economic profits are rarely made in the long run. However, in a twist of fate, Forrest’s boat is the lone survivor after a hurricane washes ashore and destroys all the other shrimp boats.

Consider the barriers to entry facing potential competitors in Forrest’s monopoly market. The more contestable a market, the closer it will be to a perfectly competitive market, whereas the less contestable a market, the closer it will be to a monopoly.

What barriers to entry exist in other industries that allow certain firms to operate as a monopoly? Are these barriers contestable?