课文3.1.doc

课文 译文 课后译文 A Mixed Economy: the United States System The economic system of the United States is principally privately owned. This system is often referred to as the free enterprise system and can be contrasted to a socialist economy, which depends heavily on government planning and on public ownership of the means of production. It should be noted that although the United States operates a system of private enterprise, government has to some extent always been involved in regulating and guiding the American economy. Yet despite this history of government intervention, individuals in the United States have always been able to choose for whom they will work and what they will buy. Most important, they vote for officials who will set economic policy. Traditionally, the system has been referred to as a market economy. Now decisions are made by three groups and it is their dynamic interaction that makes the economy function. Consumers, producers and government make economic decisions on a daily basis, the primary force being between producers and consumers; hence the market economy designation. Consumers look for the best values for what they spend while producers seek the best price and profit for what they have to sell. Government, at the federal, state, and local level, seeks to promote the public security, assure fair competition, and provide a range of services believed to be better performed by public rather than private enterprises. Some of these public services include education, the postal (but not the telephone) service, the road system, social statistical reporting and, of course, national defense. In the United States most people are simultaneously consumers and producers; they are also voters who help influence the decisions of the government. The mixture among consumers, producers and government changes constantly, making a dynamic rather than a static economy. In the last decade consumers have made their concern known and governmen