The present invention provides a positive resist composition comprising a resin
which itself is insoluble or poorly soluble in an alkali aqueous solution but becomes
soluble in an alkali aqueous solution by the action of an acid, and an acid generator,
wherein the content of halogen atoms in the resin is 40% by weight or more, at
least one of structural units constituting the resin is a structural unit having
an alicyclic hydrocarbon skeleton, and the structural unit having an alicyclic
hydrocarbon skeleton contains therein at least one group rendering the resin soluble
in an alkali aqueous solution by the action of an acid, and at least one halogen atom.
