Which economic system has a central authority make all of the economic decisions?
Traditional
Command
Market
Answers
Market economies and command economies occupy two polar extremes in the organization of economic activity. The primary differences lie in the division of labor or factors of production and the mechanisms that determine prices. The activity in a market economy is unplanned; it is not organized by any central authority but is determined by the supply and demand of goods and services. The United States, England, and Japan are all examples of market economies, as are most developed, democratic nations. Alternatively, a command economy is organized by a centralized government which owns most, if not all businesses, and whose officials direct all the factors of production. China, North Korea, and the former Soviet Union are all examples of command economies.
Market Economy - The "Free Enterprise System"
The two fundamental aspects of market economies are private ownership of the means of production, and voluntary exchanges/contracts.
The most common title associated with a market economy is capitalism. Individuals and businesses own the resources and are free to exchange and contract with each other without decree from government authority. The collective term for these uncoordinated exchanges is the "market."
Prices arise naturally in a market economy based on supply and demand. Consumer preferences and resource scarcity determine which goods are produced and in what quantity; the prices in a market economy act as signals to producers and consumers who use these price signals to help make decisions. Governments play a minor role in the direction of economic activity.
Command Economy - Central Direction
Under a command economy, governments own all of the factors of production such as land, capital, and resources, and government officials determine when, where and how much is produced at any one time. This is also sometimes referred to as a "planned economy." The most famous contemporary example of a command economy was that of the former Soviet Union, which operated under a communist system.
Since decision-making is centralized in a command economy, the government controls all of the supply and sets all of the demand. Prices cannot arise naturally like in a market economy, so prices in the economy must be set by government officials.
In a command economy, macroeconomic and political considerations determine resource allocation, whereas, in a market economy, the profits and losses of individuals and firms determine resource allocation.