40. In July 2021, the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) - "a member-led organization" of college officials -- announced interim rules that allowed college athletes to benefit financially from their name, image, and likeness (a right that the NCAA had previously prohibited). However, the NCAA still prohibits member schools from offering direct compensation to student athletes. The latter restriction is a matter of great controversy. As one commentator put it: "College players are unpaid laborers who generate millions of dollars for others." The NCAA behavior in these matters indicates they are operating as:

a. A collection of perfectly competitive firms.

b. A cartel.

c. A collection of monopolistically competitive firms.

d. A monopoly.