There are two extremes when a nation chooses an economy. A nation can have a centrally planned economy where the government makes all the economical decisions or a free market economy where the government stays away from the economy and economical decisions are made by agreements between the producers and consumers. There are no nations in the world today that have wholly either free markets or centrally planned economies. The type of economy that a nation should adopt falls between these two extremes and is called a mixed economy. By making a mixed economy you can take the positive attributes of each economy and form an economy that gives consumers choice, quality, reasonable prices and financial security. Production decisions should be influenced almost wholly by consumer demand however the government should set regulations and standards for safety on products. These regulations and standards will rise prices but they are necessary for safe quality products.
             In a true free market economy the government does not own any businesses and does not interfere with businesses in the forms of taxes and regulations. Since the government does not take in taxes from businesses or consumers, they also do not provide citizens with public services. Services such as health care, education, old age pensions, day cares, maternity/paternity paid leave from work, unemployment insurance, disability insurance and many others are not provided by the government. All of these services are provided by private businesses. Supporters of the free market economy believe that government intervention in business in unnecessary. Consumers and producers agree upon regulations, safety standards and even minimum wage. For example if consumers in significant numbers would rather buy a cheaper car that does not have air bags than a car that does have air bags then the producers will produce cars without airbags. Even though the products may not be as safe or reliable i...