Why does it seem like there are more monopolies today vs the 1980s?

Reasons why there seem to be more monopolies today than 1980s.

1. Growth in intercompany investment. Acquiring other firms has become more common today than in the 1980s. By acquiring other firms, a company may become so much powerful, thus becoming a monopoly.
2. Government policies and regulations. Today the government has put up some plans and rules that facilitate the growth of large industries. With time, these industries gain much economic power, thus becoming monopolies.
3. Protection of intellectual property. Today, it has become easier for a company to protect its ideas or formula through partents and copyrights than in the 1980s. By protecting the intellectual property, the government gives the company an exclusive right to provide a particular good or service in the market. Where the company is a single provider, it's much likely to become a monopoly.