单选题

According to the industry life-cycle model, an industry in the shakeout stage is best characterized as experiencing:

A、 slowing growth and intense competition.
B、 little or no growth and industry consolidation.
C、 relatively high barriers to entry and periodic price wars.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】

A is correct. The shakeout stage is usually characterized by slowing growth, intense competition, and declining profitability. During the shakeout stage, demand approaches market saturation levels because few new customers are left to enter the market. Competition is intense as growth becomes increasingly dependent on market share gains.