___________ would create a natural monopoly.

High barriers to entry, such as significant startup costs or exclusive access to a resource, would create a natural monopoly.

Step 1: Understand the concept of a natural monopoly A natural monopoly occurs when a single firm can serve the entire market demand for a good or service at a lower cost than any combination of two or more firms. This typically happens in industries where capital costs predominate, creating economies of scale that are large in relation to the size of the market.

Step 2: Identify the factors that create a natural monopoly High barriers to entry are the main factors that create a natural monopoly. These barriers can include:

• Significant startup costs: If the cost of building the infrastructure to produce a good or service is very high, it may not be profitable for more than one company to do so. For example, it would be extremely expensive for a new company to lay down its own set of power lines to compete with an existing electricity company.

• Exclusive access to a resource: If a company has exclusive access to a crucial resource, it can effectively monopolize the market for that good or service. For example, a company that owns all the water sources in an area could have a natural monopoly in the water supply market.

Step 3: Conclude Therefore, high barriers to entry, such as significant startup costs or exclusive access to a resource, would create a natural monopoly.