Fiveable
Fiveable

Command Economy

Definition

A command economy is an economic system in which the government has control over the means of production and makes all major economic decisions.

Analogy

Imagine a school cafeteria where the lunch lady decides what food to serve, how much to charge, and who gets to eat. The students have no say in these decisions and must follow whatever the lunch lady decides.

Related terms

Mixed Economy: An economic system that combines elements of both command economy and market economy, with some industries controlled by the government and others left to private ownership.

Planned Economy: Similar to a command economy, a planned economy is one in which central planning authorities make decisions about production, distribution, and consumption.

State-Owned Enterprises: Companies or industries that are owned and controlled by the state or government. In a command economy, most enterprises are state-owned.

collegeable - rocket pep

Are you a college student?

  • Study guides for the entire semester

  • 200k practice questions

  • Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab



© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.