Economic Systems

All Economic Systems seek to answer the three basic economic questions
1) What to produce?
2)How to produce?
3) For whom to produce?

Traditional Economies
Basic economic questions answered by
Ritual, Habit, and Custom

Traditional economies
Individual roles and choices are defined by the customs of elders and ancestors
These economies are usually based in societies of hunter/gatherers
Sharing is a big part of these economies

Examples of traditional economies
Australian aborigines

The Mbuti in Central Africa

The Inuit of Northern Canada

How do traditional economies answer the three basic questions?
1) What to produce? Whatever ritual, habit or custom dictates
2) How to produce? However ritual, habit or custom dictate
3) For whom to produce? For whomever ritual, habit or custom dictate

Advantages of traditional economy
There is little or no uncertainty…everyone knows what role to play.
Life is generally stable, predictable, and continuous

Disadvantages of Traditional economies
Tend to discourage new ideas and new ways of doing things
Lack of progress lowers standard of living

Command Economies
Basic economic questions answered by the government (central authority)

Examples of command economies
Only two command economies left
All others have mixed in market economy with their command structure (China)

North Korea

How do command economies answer the basic economic questions?
1) What to produce? Whatever the government says to produce
2) How to produce? However the government tells you to produce
3) For whom to produce? For whomever the government tells you to produce (ideally the entire society)

Advantages to command economy
Because the government has total control over production and its factors, these economies can change rapidly. Whatever is needed most will be produced.
There is no uncertainty (people are told when and how to work)
Free education, health care, and other public services

Disadvantages of command economies
Economy designed to meet needs not wants
No incentive to work hard…people don’t often lose their jobs, so they do the bare minimum to get by
Large bureaucracy means slow decision making, raises cost of production, lacks flexibility
No reward for initiative slows progress

Market Economies
Basic economic questions answered by consumers
Dollars=Votes

Examples of market economies
USA, Canada, UK, etc. etc.

Advantages of Market Economies
Adjusts to change based on consumer wants
High degree of individual freedom
Low levels of government interference
Because individuals (with money) make the decisions, everyone (with money) has a voice in the way the economy runs
Wide variety of available goods & services
Many choices=high degree of consumer satisfaction

Disadvantages of Market Economies
Poverty: only those with money can participate
Market does not provide for people’s basic needs. Governments must attempt to do this (think Katrina, Minneapolis bridge, etc.)
High degree of uncertainty people lose jobs, businesses fail
Greed based system puts profit before people (think about the loss of manufacturing jobs right here in Buffalo. What caused it?)

What kind of economy do the U.S.A., Canada, and the U.K. really have?
Are they truly Free market Economies?
Does the government regulate businesses?
Does the government control any businesses?

Mixed Economic systems
There is no such thing as a true laissez faire economy
Why?

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Economic Systems

by eben_cooke on Apr 30, 2008

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