Comparative Economic Systems: Objectives, Decision Modes, and the Process of Choice

The phrase "economic system" refers to the organizational arrangements and processes through which a society makes its production and consumption decisions. In this book, Professor Conklin explores the diversity of economic systems and the choices societies must face in determining the economic systems best suited to their needs. He discusses the alternative objectives and alternative decision modes that are available to societies. Objectives such as efficiency, growth, liberty and equality--while themselves desirable--frequently involve trade-offs; the more complete attainment of any one objective may involve the partial sacrifice of another. In pursuit of its objectives, each society uses a combination of decision modes. Professor Conklin examines six of these: free enterprise, price controls, subsidies, taxation, non-price regulations, and public enterprise. He ends with a discussion of the processes societies use to make the necessary decisions between the available objectives and decision modes.