Mixed economies

Command and market economies both have significant faults. Partly because of this, an intermediate system has developed, known as mixed economies.

A mixed economy means very much what it says as it contains elements of both market and planned economies. At one extreme wеhave a command economy, which does not allow individuals to make economic decisions, at the other extreme we have a free market, where individuals exercise considerable economic freedom of choice without any government restrictions. Between these two extremes lies a mixed economy. In mixed economies some resources are controlled by the government while others are used in response to the demands of consumers.

Technically, all the economies of the world are mixed: it is just the balance elements between market and planned elements that alters. Some countries are nearer to command economies, while others are closer to free market economies. So, for example, Hong Kong has some state-controlled industry, while Cuba has some privately owned and controlled firms.

The aim of mixed economies is to avoid the disadvantages of both systems while enjoying the benefits that they both offer. So, in a mixed economy the government and the private sector interact in solving economic problems. The state controls the share of the output through taxation and transfer payments and intervenes to supply essential items such as health, education and defence, while private firms produce cars, furniture, electrical items and similar, less essential products.

The UK is a mixed economy: some services are provided by the state (for example, health care and defence) while a range of privately owned businesses offer other goods and services. The Conservative government switched many businesses from being state-owned and controlled to being privately owned as part of its privatization programme. This has taken the UK economy further away from the planned system.

Ex. 3. Give Russian equivalents to the following:

an intermediate system has developed; to supply essential items; the government controls a share of the output

Ex. 4.Give English equivalents to the following:

избегать недостатков; частный сектор; налогообложение; централизованно принимать экономические решения; на одном полюсе - на другом…, без ограничений взаимодействовать в решении проблем; пользоваться благами; правительство, возглавляемое…

Ex. 5. Fill in the gaps with the words and expressions from the text:

1. Command and market economies both have ____.

2. _____ contains elements of both market and planned economies.

3. _____we have a command economy, which does not ____, ____ we have

a free market, where individuals _____ without_____.

4. Some countries, are ____to command economies, while others are ____

to free market economies.

5. It is just ____ between market and planned element that ____ in all the

economies of the world.

6. The aim of mixed economies is ____ the disadvantages of both systems while

_____ the benefits that they both offer.

7. In a mixed economy the government and the private sector ____ in _____.

8. The state controls _____ through _____, and ____, and intervenes to supply

_____.

9. The Conservative government switched many state-owned businesses to

being privately owned as part of its _____.

Ex. 6. Agree or disagree with the statements:

1. A mixed economy contains elements of both market and planned economies.

2. In a mixed economy the government and the private sector interact in solving

economic problems.

3. Control and long – term planning are of no interest for the countries with

mixed economies.

4. The nationalized industries are in the private sectors of economy.

5. Britain has both private and public sectors in its economy.

Ex. 7.

a) Check your grammar:

It is (was)... that (who) -именно

It is the intention of the planners that there should be enough goods and services for all.

It is these disadvantages that have led to many countries abandoning planned economies.

It is consumers who decide what is to be produced.

It is just the balance between market and planned elements that alters.

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