Sparks Fly

Comparison of Free, Command, and Mixed Economies

Indicators	Free Market	Command	Mixed
Basic economic questions What, How, and for whom to produce goods	Consumers and producers determine basic questions	Government decides basic economic questions	Individuals, businesses, and government together answer economic questions
Ownership of resources	Resources are privately owned	Resources are owned by government	Government and individuals own resources
Supply and demand	Price determines allocation of resources	Government determines allocation of resources	Price determines allocation of resources but government has greater role in controlling allocation

Most economies today are mixed economies.

This page last updated on 06/07/00.

Dr. Cynthia Sparks is the Supervisor of Social Studies for Chesapeake Public Schools. She is also an Adjunct Faculty member for the University of Virginia, Troy State University, and Old Dominion University.