Final answer:
Government policy, economies of scale, capital requirements, and credible threat of retaliation are important sources of entry barriers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The important sources of entry barriers are:
- Government policy: Government laws and regulations can create barriers to entry, such as licensing requirements or restrictions on the number of licenses issued.
- Economies of scale: When a company achieves economies of scale, it can produce its products at a lower cost than its competitors, creating a barrier for new entrants.
- Capital requirements: Large capital investments or financial resources required to start or compete in an industry can be a significant barrier to entry.
- Credible threat of retaliation: Existing firms may be able to discourage new entrants by signaling that they will aggressively protect their market share and respond with retaliation if new competitors enter the market.