Centrally Planned Economic System
Centrally Planned Economic System
Centrally Planned Economic System
In 21st century, there are very few countries that rely on centrally planned economy system.
The Soviet Union has made the transition to a mixed economy. (Socialism Today - The
Soviet Union's place in history. 2014.) This involved a process of privatization and price
deregulation. China has also made the transition from a command economy to a mixed
economy though politically the country still remains communist. (China - The Economy.
2014.) Realistically, these systems tend to suffer from large inefficiencies and are overall not
as successful as other types of economic systems.
In this economic system, people have the freedom of employment, entrepreneurship and
consumption. Prices are decided by the price mechanism in the market based economic
system. Adam Smith, the Founding Fathers of economics described the invisible hand of the
price mechanism in which the hidden-hand of the market operating in a competitive market
through the pursuit of self-interest allocated resources in societys best interest. For example,
the types of goods, the quantity of goods, allocation of resources and consumer choice are
determined by the price. (Market economic system - features, advantages and disadvantages.
2014.)
However, the freedom of consumption may leads to the disparity of wealth and poor, the rich
people begin to think of themselves to be a better kind of human while the poor feel a
mixture of envy. "Wherever there is great property there is great inequality. For one very
rich man there must be at least five hundred poor, and the affluence of the few supposes the
indigence of the many. The affluence of the rich excites the indignation of the poor, who are
often both driven by want, and prompted by envy, to invade his possessions." Adam
Smith (The Wealth of Nations: An Inquiry into the Nature & Causes of the Wealth of
Nations.) (Quotes About Economy (205 quotes). 2014.)People will be facing the
unemployment problem because machines and raw materials are available. The inequality of
social and economic will be occur and also other social economic issues. Beside, the
consumption of harmful goods maybe encouraged in the market based economies. The
bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the sale of Merrill Lynch to Bank of America on
September 15, 2008 have showed the failure of market based economies.( Lehman Files for
Bankruptcy; Merrill Is Sold - NYTimes.com. 2014.)
Reference used:
Differences Between Centrally Planned and Market Economies - Basic Economic Questions.
2014. [ONLINE] Available at:https://www.boundless.com/economics/principles-ofeconomics/basic-economic-questions/differences-between-centrally-planned-and-marketeconomies. [Accessed 22 June 2014].
Command Economy | Economics Help. 2014. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/glossary/command-economy/. [Accessed 22 June 2014].
SparkNotes: Political Economy: Types of Economies. 2014. [ONLINE] Available
at:http://www.sparknotes.com/us-government-and-politics/political-science/politicaleconomy/section2.rhtml. [Accessed 22 June 2014].
Market economic system - features, advantages and disadvantages. 2014. [ONLINE] Available
at: http://www.dineshbakshi.com/as-a-level-economics/basic-economic-ideas/117-revisionnotes/1350-market-economic-system. [Accessed 22 June 2014].
Lehman Files for Bankruptcy; Merrill Is Sold - NYTimes.com. 2014. [ONLINE] Available
at:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/business/15lehman.html?pagewanted=all. [Accessed 22
June 2014].