Question

How are traditional and command economies similar in terms of who controls the economy?.

explain in an 7th graders words

Answer 1

Short answer: In both traditional and command economies, most decisions about what to make, how to make it, and who gets it are made by a small group of people — not by regular consumers or private businesses.

Explain like you’re in 7th grade:
- Traditional economy: The community’s elders, family leaders, or long-held customs decide what people do for work and what is produced. People follow traditions passed down for generations.
- Command economy: The government or central planners decide what to produce, how much, and who gets it.

How they’re similar:
- Neither gives everyday people (consumers or private businesses) the main power to choose what to buy or sell.
- Both rely on a few people or rules (elders/tradition or government officials) to control the economy.
- That means individual choice is limited in both systems.

Quick example: In both systems, you wouldn’t pick a new job because you wanted to — you’d follow what your community expects (traditional) or what the government assigns (command).