Features and conditions for the functioning of the traditional economy. Types of economic systems: traditional, planned, market, mixed

Economic system and its functions

1. Concept and structure economic systems 2. The main types of economic systems: 2.1. Traditional economic system 2.2. Centralized (command) economy. 2.3. Market system 2.4. Mixed economic system 3. The problem of coordination in different economic systems 1. The concept and structure of economic systems

In the process of development of society, economic problems arise associated with limited resources and opportunity costs that need to be addressed.

Under subsistence farming, people can live independently of each other. With the division of labor and specialization, this is excluded - here it is necessary to exchange products between their producers. No man would specialize in, say, sewing costumes or writing books, if he had not been firmly convinced that he would be able to exchange his costumes and books for food, clothing, and other goods and services that satisfy his basic needs. The more developed the division of labor, the greater the dependence between producers, the more necessary the coordination of their activities. The method of coordinating the activities of producers under the conditions of the division of labor is called the economic system.

The economic system of a society consists of small economic systems - households and enterprises. A household is a small system that represents resource owners and consumers within a family. The main function of the household is the consumption of final products and services produced by enterprises. An enterprise is a small system within which economic benefits and services using the aggregate necessary resources... Groups of related businesses are combined into industries. An industry is a larger system that unites all enterprises that produce certain products. Industries are combined into larger systems - intersectoral.

Each economic system must solve the following problems:

1. What to produce- what needs are considered the most important and how to allocate scarce resources between the production of various goods and services?

2. How to produce? Having solved the first question, one should choose a production technology - to determine in what combination the factors of production will be used. If technology in a given society is not sufficiently developed, such technologies are chosen for which a relatively huge contribution labor (labor intensive). In the course of technical progress, the labor intensity of production decreases and its capital intensity increases. The economic system must choose the most effective method production, i.e. the one that allows you to get the most out of the available resources.

3. How to distribute what has been produced? Suppose an economic system has selected the products it needs, allocated resources, selected the best technology, and produced finished products. How to distribute them? In the conditions of the division of labor, the exchange of production products is necessary. In what proportion should they be exchanged?

One way or another, all these issues must be resolved. However, different economic systems solve them in different ways.

The main types of economic systems include traditional, centralized (command) and market economies.

Traditional economics

Throughout most of the history of mankind, the questions of "what", "how" and "for whom" "to produce were solved with the help of customs, that is, everything was done as before. For example, in medieval India, all people were divided into castes - priests, warriors, artisans, servants. ” labor resources was carried out automatically. The same can be said for the choice of technology. Customs determined the timing of the beginning and end of all agricultural work. Each artisan copied the techniques of their teachers. It was strictly forbidden to make any improvements, every little thing in the production process was fixed in special rules (for example, in shop regulations in medieval Europe).

Centuries-old traditions, passed down from generation to generation, have allowed artisans of the past to achieve the highest level craftsmanship, which has survived to this day in those places where the traditional economy is still strong (for example, in the same India).

But the production methods remain the same as they were hundreds of years ago. Technological progress is impossible and even prohibited, which means that labor productivity remains unchanged. The distribution and exchange of products of production in the traditional economy is also decided according to custom. The agriculture in which the vast majority of people work in such an economy is generally subsistence. As for the artisans, they often produced their products not for peasants and artisans of the same kind, but at the request of the feudal lords. A small portion of the products entered the market, but there were time-honored trading rules and prices changed infrequently.

How tradition differs from the law and what is bad about it from an economic point of view.

The traditional economy is understood as an economic system in which the behavior of people and the distribution of resources is determined by tradition. In many textbooks, the traditional economy is endowed with such features as manual labor, the predominance of the agricultural sector, communal property, etc. This approach is fundamentally wrong, since the existence of traditions is not determined by the prevailing technologies and the prevailing type of property. After all, you can act traditionally, using a computer, or you can behave quite rationally within the community (read the works of E. Ostrom).

What is tradition and how does it differ from such concepts rather close to it as law or an informal institution? Both the law, and the informal institution, and tradition mean certain norms that determine the behavior of people in certain situations. The difference between them is as follows:

The law always has a rational purpose and a special authority oversees its observance. Tradition has no rational purpose. They represent a kind of ritual that has developed historically. The informal institution is a broader concept than tradition. It includes both traditional norms of behavior and informal norms with a specific purpose.

In a traditional economy, the following problems will always occur:

1. Inefficiency of production. All other things being equal, not the most efficient production method will be chosen, but the one that is more in line with tradition.

2. Low incentives for self-development. The position and income of a person in the traditional economy is determined by his origin (nobles and commoners). Therefore, people are not motivated to develop. After all, it is almost impossible to go to another caste.

3. Low level of innovation. New technologies that come into conflict in the existing way production will be rejected. In addition, the ruling caste will always oppose changes that threaten its power (think about the relationship between the church and scholars).

4. High costs of interaction between societies with different traditions. It is difficult for people with different traditional values ​​to interact without conflict. In addition, high transaction costs associated with "compatibility costs" (the more the language differs, the higher the cost for a translator).

When analyzing traditional economy, it is important to understand that traditions, which, roughly speaking, are of a museum nature (holidays, national clothes, National cuisine etc.) are not decisive here. The traditional economy is built on traditions related to the interaction of people.

There is an opinion that the traditional economy for our country is a long passed stage. In fact, of course, this is not the case. Its elements are still around us (for example, clannishness, respect for elders, discrimination against women, etc.).

At all historical stages of human development, society faces the same question: what, for whom and in what quantities to produce, taking into account the limited resources. The economic system and the types of economic systems are precisely designed to solve this problem. Moreover, each of these systems does it in its own way, each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Economic system concept

The economic system is the system of all economic processes and industrial relations, which has developed in a particular society. This concept is understood as an algorithm, a way of organizing the production life of society, which presupposes the presence of stable ties between producers on the one hand and consumers on the other.

The main processes in any economic system are the following:

Production in any of the existing economic systems is carried out on the basis of appropriate resources. some elements still differ in different systems. It is about the nature of the management mechanisms, the motivation of producers, etc.

Economic system and types of economic systems

An important point in the analysis of any phenomenon or concept is its typology.

Characterization of types of economic systems, in general, is reduced to the analysis of five main parameters for comparison. It:

• technical and economic parameters;
• the ratio of the share of government planning and market regulation systems;
• property relations;
• social parameters (real income, amount of free time, labor protection, etc.);
• mechanisms of the system functioning.

Based on this, modern economists distinguish four main types of economic systems:

1. Traditional
2. Command-planned
3. Market (capitalism)
4. Mixed

Let's consider in more detail how all these types differ from each other.

Traditional economic system

This economic system is characterized by gathering, hunting and low-productivity farming based on extensive methods, manual labor and primitive technologies. Trade is poorly developed or not developed at all.

Perhaps the only advantage of such an economic system can be called a weak (practically zero) and minimal anthropogenic load on nature.

Command-planned economic system

A planned (or centralized) economy is historical type management. Nowadays, it is not found anywhere in its pure form. Previously, it was characteristic of the Soviet Union, as well as some countries in Europe and Asia.

Today, they often talk about the shortcomings of this economic system, among which it is worth mentioning:

• lack of freedom for producers (commands "what and in what quantities" to produce were sent from above);
• dissatisfaction with a large number of economic needs of consumers;
• chronic shortage of certain goods;
• occurrence (as a natural reaction to the previous point);
• the inability to quickly and effectively implement the latest achievements of scientific and technological progress (due to which Planned Economy always stays one step behind other competitors in the global market).

Nevertheless, this economic system had its own advantages. One of them was the possibility of ensuring social stability for one and all.

Market economic system

The market is a complex and multifaceted economic system that is typical for most countries modern world... Also known by another name: "capitalism". Fundamental principles this system is the principle of individualism, free enterprise and healthy market competition based on the ratio of supply and demand. Private property dominates here, and the main incentive to production activities the desire for profit is in favor.

Nevertheless, such an economy is far from ideal. The market type of economic system also has its drawbacks:

• uneven distribution of income;
• social inequality and social insecurity selected categories citizens;
• instability of the system, which manifests itself in the form of periodic acute crises in the economy;
• predatory, barbaric use of natural resources;
• weak funding for education, science and other unprofitable programs.

In addition, the fourth is also distinguished - a mixed type of economic system, in which both the state and the private sector have an equal weight. In such systems, the functions of the state in the country's economy are reduced to supporting important (but unprofitable) enterprises, financing science and culture, controlling unemployment, etc.

Economic system and systems: country examples

It remains to consider examples modern countries, for which this or that economic system is characteristic. For this, a special table is presented below. The types of economic systems in it are presented taking into account the geography of their distribution. It should be noted that this table is very subjective, since for many modern states it can be difficult to unequivocally assess which of the systems they belong to.

What type of economic system in Russia? In particular, Professor of Moscow State University A. Buzgalin described modern economy Russia as a "mutation of late capitalism". In general, the country's economic system is considered to be transitional today, with an actively developing market.

Finally

Each economic system responds differently to the three "what, how and for whom to produce?" Modern economists distinguish four main types of them: traditional, command-planning, market, and also a mixed system.

Speaking about Russia, we can say that in this state a specific type of economic system has not yet been established. The country is in a transitional phase between a command economy and a modern market economy.

Economic systems Is a set of interrelated economic elements that form a certain integrity, economic structure society; the unity of the relations that develop about the production, distribution, exchange and consumption of economic goods.

Modern economic systems

The use of resources to meet needs is subordinated to the economic goals that they pursue in their economic activities.

The economic consumer's goal is to maximize the satisfaction of all.

The economic the purpose of the firm is maximization or minimization.

The main economic goals modern society are:, increased production efficiency, complete and socio-economic stability.

In the capitalist system, material resources belong to individuals. The right to enter into binding legal contracts allows individuals to dispose of their material resources as they see fit.

The manufacturer seeks to produce ( WHAT?) those products that satisfy and bring him the greatest profit. The consumer decides for himself what product to buy and how much money to pay for it.

Since in conditions of free competition the setting of prices does not depend on the manufacturer, then the question " AS?"to produce, the economic subject of the economy is responsible for the desire to produce products with lower than its competitor, in order to sell more due to more low prices... The solution of this problem is facilitated by the use of technical progress and various management methods.

Question " FOR WHOM?"is decided in favor of the consumers with the highest income.

In such an economic system, the government does not interfere with the economy. Its role is reduced to the protection of private property, the establishment of laws that facilitate the functioning of free markets.

Command economic system

Team or centralized economy is the opposite. It is based on state property for all material resources. Hence all economic solutions accepted government bodies through centralized (directive planning).

For every enterprise the production plan provides for what and in what volume to produce, certain resources are allocated, thereby the state decides the question of how to produce, not only suppliers, but also buyers are indicated, that is, the question is decided for whom to produce.

The means of production are allocated between sectors on the basis of long-term priorities determined by the planning authority.

Mixed economic system

Today one cannot speak of the presence of one of the three models in a particular state in its pure form. Most modern developed countries have mixed economy combining elements of all three types.

A mixed economy involves the use of the regulatory role of the state and economic freedom manufacturers. Entrepreneurs and workers move from industry to industry by their own decision, not by government directives. The state, in turn, implements social, fiscal (tax) and other types of economic policy, which to one degree or another contributes to economic growth country and raising the living standards of the population.

In economically underdeveloped countries, there is a traditional economic system. This type of economic system is based on backward technology, widespread manual labor.

there are various forms of management in a given economic system. In a number of countries, natural-communal forms based on communal farming and natural forms of distribution of the created product are preserved. Small-scale production is of great importance. It is based on private ownership of productive resources and the personal labor of their owner. In countries with a traditional system, small-scale production is represented by numerous peasant and handicraft farms that dominate the economy. In the context of relatively underdeveloped national entrepreneurship, foreign capital often plays a huge role in the economy of the countries under consideration.

The life of society is dominated by traditions and customs illuminated for centuries, religious cultural values, caste and class divisions, restraining socio-economic progress. The traditional system is characterized by an active role of the state. Redistributing a significant part of the national income through the budget, the state directs funds to develop infrastructure and provide social support to the poorest segments of the population. The traditional economy is based on traditions passed down from generation to generation. These traditions determine whether goods and services are produced, for whom and how. The list of goods, production technology and distribution are based on the customs of the country. The economic roles of members of society are determined by heredity and caste. This type of economy persists today in a number of so-called underdeveloped countries, into which technological progress penetrates with great difficulties, because it, as a rule, undermines the customs and traditions established in these systems.

Benefits of the traditional economy

Stability;

Predictability;

Q factor and a large number of good.

Disadvantages of traditional economics

Vulnerability to external influences;

Inability for self-improvement, for progress.

Distinctive features:

Extremely primitive technologies;

The predominance of manual labor;

All key economic problems are solved in accordance with age-old customs;

The organization and management of economic life is carried out on the basis of decisions of the council.

Traditional economic system: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Benin. This is the least the developed countries the world. The economy is oriented towards agriculture. The economies of the countries are represented mainly by agriculture, rarely by the mining industry. Everything that is produced and mined is not able to feed and provide for the population of these countries. In contrast to these states are countries with higher incomes, but also focused on Agriculture- Azerbaijan, Cote d'Ivoire, Pakistan.