According to the five forces model, an unattractive industry would include all of the following characteristics excepta. low economies of scale needed for new firms to enter. b. low supplier power due to commodity inputs. c. high threat of substitute products due to a large number of low cost alternatives. d. high bargaining power of buyers due to low switching costs.

Which statement best explains the relationship between points a and b? a. consumption reaches its highest point, and then supply begins to fall. b. inflation reaches its highest point, and then the economy begins to expand. c. production reaches its highest point, and then the economy begins to contract. d. unemployment reaches its highest point, and then inflation begins to decrease.

There is a small, family-owned store that sells food and household goods in a small town. the owners have good relations with the community, especially with local farmers who supply much of the food. the farmers aren't organized into a cooperative or union, and the store deals with each individually. suppose the store wanted to buy some farms to control the supply of certain vegetables. how would you classify this strategic move? select one: a. horizontal integration b. forward integration c. backward integration d. concentric integration

Costco wholesale corporation operates membership warehouses selling food, appliances, consumer electronics, apparel and other household goods at 471 locations across the u.s. as well as in canada, mexico and puerto rico. as of its fiscal year-end 2005, costco had approximately 21.2 million members. selected fiscal-year information from the company's balance sheets follows. ($ millions). selected balance sheet data 2005 2004 merchandise inventories $4,015 $3,644 deferred membership income (liability) 501 454 (a) during fiscal 2005, costco collected $1,120 cash for membership fees. use the financial statement effectstemplate to record the cash collected for membership fees. (b) in 2005, costco recorded $46,347 million in merchandise costs (that is, cost of goods sold). record thistransaction in the financial statement effects template. (c) determine the value of merchandise that costco purchased during fiscal-year 2005. use the financial statementeffects template to record these merchandise purchases. assume all of costco's purchases are on credit.