Economic Systems E.Q: What are the 3 questions each country must answer to decide on its economic system?
Different Economic Systems Scarcity refers to the limited supply of something Every country must deal with the problem of scarcity since no country has everything that its people need/want Every country must develop an economic system to determine how to use its limited resources to answer the three basic economic questions: What goods/services will be produced? How will goods/services be produced? Who will consume the goods/services? The way a country answers these questions determines its economic system
Traditional Economy An economic system in which economic decisions are based on customs and beliefs People will make what they always made & will do the same work their parents did Exchange of goods is done through Bartering: trading without using money
Traditional Economy Who decides what to produce? People follow their customs and make what their ancestors made Who decides how to produce goods & services? People grow & make things the same way that their ancestors did Who are the goods & services produced for? People in the village who need them
Traditional Economies Examples: Villages in Africa and South America the Inuit tribes in Canada the caste system in parts of rural India the Aborigines in Australia
Command System Government makes all economic decisions & owns most of the property Governmental planning groups (Central Planners) determine such things as the prices of goods/services & the wages of workers This system has not been very successful & more and more countries are abandoning it
Command Economy Who decides what to produce? Government makes all economic decisions Who decides how to produce goods and services? Government decides how to make goods/services Who are the goods and services produced for? Whoever the government decides to give them to
Command System Countries with communist governments have command economies Examples: Cuba, former Soviet Union, North Korea The government of Australia controlled one part of the economy in the past -- government-owned companies controlled telecommunications Government set the price for having a phone, the cost of calls, and wages were the same in all parts of the country In 1989, the company was made into a private business with stockholders owning the company
Market Economy An economic system in which economic decisions are guided by the changes in prices that occur as individual buyers and sellers interact in the market place Most of the resources are owned by private citizens Economic decisions are based on Free Enterprise (competition between companies) Important economic questions are not answered by government but by individuals Government does not tell a business what goods to produce or what price to charge
Market Economy Who decides what to produce? Businesses base decisions on supply and demand and free enterprise (PRICE) Who decides how to produce goods and services? Businesses decide how to produce goods Who are the goods and services produced for? consumers
Market Economy There are no truly pure Market economies, but Australia s is close: It is considered one of the most free economies in the world Businesses operate without too many rules form the government People are free to start a business and can do so quickly Courts use the laws of Australia to protect the property rights of citizens
In a truly free market economy, the government would not be involved at all There would be no laws to protect workers form unfair bosses There would be no rules to make sure that credit cards were properly protected Many societies have chosen to have some rules to protect consumers, workers, and businesses (MIXED) These rules reduce the freedoms that businesses have, but they also protect the workers and consumers
Mixed Economy Market + Command = Mixed There are no pure command or market economies. To some degree, all modern economies exhibit characteristics of both systems and are often referred to as mixed economies. Most economies are closer to one type of economic system than another Businesses own most resources and determine what and how to produce, but the government regulates certain industries
Mixed Economy Who decides what to produce? businesses Who decides how to produce goods and services? Businesses, but the government regulates certain industries Who are the goods and services produced for? consumers
Mixed Economies Most democratic countries fall in this category (there are no truly pure Market or Command economies). Examples: Brazil, Mexico, Canada, UK, US, Germany, Russia, Australia, etc.
Economy Continuum Command Market Cuba Russia Germany UK US Australia Analyze the Economy Continuum Create at least 4 question/true statement based off the information from the Economy Continuum.
Who Am I (Economic Sys.) Goods/Services A B C D What will be produced? How will it be produced? Who will produce it? Market Economy Determined by demand Determined by makers and sellers Individuals and Groups Mixed Economy Determine by demand but govt. may regulate some pricing or production Determined by makers & sellers but government may regulate safety Private Individuals but the government may own some business and factories Traditional Economy Farm Goods; Livestock Gathering; Hunting; Hand Work Family; Group Command Economy What is determined to be important by govt. Amounts determined by govt. Govt. Workers
Economy Notes Goods/Services A B C D What will be produced? Traditional Economy Command Economy Market Economy Mixed Economy How will it be produced? Who will produce it?