（接上文） Mixed Economy The U.S. economic system The United States has developed the world's largest economic system." The basic parts of the American economy are illustrated in Figure 1.3. This model, a simplification of our mixed economic system, includes only the broadest parts of the economy; it does not include the government. Note the differences between resource markets and product markets in the figure. Resource markets are places where economic resources-natural, labor, technological, and capital-are bought and sold. The New York Stock Exchange, where money is invested in companies, is a capital resource market. The employment ad in local newspapers is a resource market where labor is bought and sold. Product markets are the thousands of markets in America where business outputs-goods and services-are sold to consumers. Consumers pay for goods and services with money. This type of consumer expenditure is called retail sales. The money businesses receive from retail sales is business revenue. Where do consumers get money to spend for goods and services? Figure 1.3 shows that consumer households supply economic resources to the resource markets. In return for money, people provide labor through work, invest in businesses (capital), and sell natural resources to businesses. The money received in payment for these economic resources is then used to purchase goods and services. Of course, businesses view money paid to suppliers of goods and services as an expense. Two distinct types of economic resource flows are illustrated in Figure 1.3. The flow of economic resources and products is shown by the inner loop. It flows counterclockwise, showing that economic resources move from consumers to businesses and then return to consumers as finished goods and services. Money flow, on the other hand, is shown by the outer circle. This clockwise flow of money begins when firms pay consumers for the economic resource they purchase. Consumers use their money to purchase the goods and services produced by businesses. These two economic flows take place continuously and at the same time. As long as consumers spend all their money, the flow of money into and out of consumer households is equal. However, some money is diverted into savings, and the government needs to intervene to bring about a balance in the flows- What economic system is best? The most appropriate form of economic system for a nation depends on several things, including cultural factors and the availability of economic resources- For example, capitalism is unlikely to be appropriate for a nation that creates hurdles for individuals who want to organize their own businesses. The right of business owners to use economic resources for whatever purpose they want is the backbone of capitalism. Capitalism normally works best with people who are willing and able to make their own economic decisions. In fact, capitalism encourages people to take the initiative to become better educated and to make their own decisions. (未完待续)