N his book Naked Economics, Charles Wheelan discusses the falling birth rate in industrialized countries like Japan and the United States. He writes that the main cost of child rearing today is the cost of forgone earnings when a parent stops or cuts back working in order to raise a child. The earnings that parents forgo to raise children are an example of cost.

Which of the following is a competitive benefit experienced by the first mover firm in an industry? a. the first mover will be able to achieve a less steep learning curve. b. the first mover will be able to reduce the switching costs. c. the first mover will not have to patent its products or technology. d. the first mover will be able to reduce costs through economies of scale.