Mixed economics

(Смешанная экономика)

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 we have 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 whilst others are used in response to the demands of consumers.

Technically, all the economies of the world arc 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 arc provided by the state (for example, health care and defence) whilst a range of privately owned businesses offer other goods and services. The Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher 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.

VOCABULARY NOTES

significant faults –значительные недостатки at one extreme... at the other extreme –на одном полюсе... на другом to exercise considerable economic freedom of choice –иметь значитель­ную экономическую свободу выбора restriction –ограничение whilst [wailst] (syn. while) –в то время как, пока state- controlled industry –промышленность, контролируемая государством

to avoid disadvantages –избегать недостатков to enjoy the benefits –иметь преимущества, пользоваться преимуществами to interact –взаимодействовать to solve economic problems – решать экономические проблемы a share of the output –доля в объеме производства essential items –товары и услуги первой необходимости a range of businesses – зд. ряд компаний, фирм

ЗАДАНИЯ К ТЕКСТУ

Заполнимте пропуски подходящими словами и словосочетаниями из текста.

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 __.

 

2. Найдите в текстеи запишите эквиваленты следующих слов и словосочетаний:

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