A positive
resist composition including a resin component (A) which exhibits increased alkali
solubility under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon
exposure, the resin component (A) including a
structural unit (a1) derived from an
acrylate ester having a
tertiary alkyl ester-type acid dissociable,
dissolution inhibiting group containing an aliphatic monocyclic group and / or an aliphatic branched,
tertiary alkyl ester-type acid dissociable,
dissolution inhibiting group, and the acid-generator component (B) including an acid generator (B1) having a cation
moiety represented by general formula (b′-1) shown below:wherein each of R1 and R2 independently represents a naphthyl group which may have a
substituent; and R3 represents an
alkyl group or an
aryl group exclusive of a naphthyl group.