InGen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Desktop Pharma Inc., and WEN Pharma Inc. are three rival firms who have set up an alliance to conduct research and find a cure for cancer. They have made almost equal contributions to the research, and they also share their expertise with one another. However, the three firms will continue to behave as competitors in markets for other drugs and vaccines. What is this arrangement best referred to as?

Ronald sees that his employer's stock has grown from $20 a share to $60 a share this year, while most stocks have seen only 5% growth. his employer offers to let him convert a large portion of his salary into stock options. what is not a valid reason to turn down the stock offer? a)stocks with high returns have high volatility, and ronald's company may not grow further. b)ronald may be taxed more for capital gains than he would be for employment income. c)stock options are illiquid, and ronald may not be able to use them to pay for unexpected bills. d)ronald would be committing stock fraud if he exercises the options.