A Mixed economy

A MIXED ECONOMY

1. The United States is said to have a mixed economy because privately owned businesses and government both play important roles. Some of the most enduring debates of American economic history focus on the relative roles of the public and private sectors.

2. The American free enterprise system emphasizes private ownership. Private businesses produce most goods and services, and almost two-thirds of the nation’s total economic output goes to individuals for personal use (the remaining one-third is bought by government and business). The consumer role is so great that the nation is sometimes characterized as having a “consumer economy.”

3. This emphasis on private ownership arises, in part, from American beliefs about personal freedom. From the time the nation was created, Americans have feared excessive government power, and they have sought to limit government’s authority over individuals—including its role in the economic realm. Americans generally believe that an economy characterized by private ownership is likely to operate more efficiently than one with substantial government ownership.

4. When economic forces are not regulated, Americans believe supply and demand determine the prices of goods and services. Prices tell businesses what to produce; if people want more of a particular good the price of the good rises. That catches the attention of new or other companies that, sensing an opportunity to earn profits, start producing more of that good. If people want less of the good, prices fall and less competitive producers either go out of business or start producing different goods. Such a system is called a market economy. A socialist economy is characterized by more government ownership and central planning. Most Americans are convinced that socialist economies are less efficient because government, which relies on tax revenues, is far less likely than private businesses to take note of price signals or to feel the discipline imposed by market forces.

‘A Mixed Economy: The Role of the Market’,

www.economics.about.com

Определите, является ли утверждение:

The US Government has always tried to restrict private ownership.

Варианты ответов:

1. истинным

2. в тексте нет информации

3. ложным

Тема № 14. Ознакомительное чтение с целью определения ложности утверждения

Вопрос № 55: Прочитайте текст и выполните задания

1. The United States is said to have a mixed economy because privately owned businesses and government both play important roles. Some of the most enduring debates of American economic history focus on the relative roles of the public and private sectors.

2. The American free enterprise system emphasizes private ownership. Private businesses produce most goods and services, and almost two-thirds of the nation’s total economic output goes to individuals for personal use (the remaining one-third is bought by government and business). The consumer role is so great that the nation is sometimes characterized as having a “consumer economy.”

3. This emphasis on private ownership arises, in part, from American beliefs about personal freedom. From the time the nation was created, Americans have feared excessive government power, and they have sought to limit government’s authority over individuals—including its role in the economic realm. Americans generally believe that an economy characterized by private ownership is likely to operate more efficiently than one with substantial government ownership.

4. When economic forces are not regulated, Americans believe supply and demand determine the prices of goods and services. Prices tell businesses what to produce; if people want more of a particular good the price of the good rises. That catches the attention of new or other companies that, sensing an opportunity to earn profits, start producing more of that good. If people want less of the good, prices fall and less competitive producers either go out of business or start producing different goods. Such a system is called a market economy. A socialist economy is characterized by more government ownership and central planning. Most Americans are convinced that socialist economies are less efficient because government, which relies on tax revenues, is far less likely than private businesses to take note of price signals or to feel the discipline imposed by market forces.

‘A Mixed Economy: The Role of the Market’,

www.economics.about.com

Определите, является ли утверждение:

Socialist economies proved to be ineffective all over the world.

Варианты ответов: (выберите один правильный ответ, время 4 мин)

1. истинным

2. в тексте нет информации

3. ложным

Тема № 15. Поисковое чтение с целью определения наличия в тексте запрашиваемой информации

Вопрос № 56: Прочитайте текст и выполните задания

Дата добавления: 2015-05-10