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1、Text1TheUnitedStatesissaidtohaveamixedeconomybecauseprivatelyownedbusinessesandgovernmentbothplayimportantroles-Indeed,someofthemostenduringdebatesofAmericaneconomichistoryfocusontherelativerolesofthepublicandprivatesectors・TheAmericanfreeenterprisesysteme
2、mphasizesprivateownership.Privatebusinessesproducemostgoodsandservices,andalmosttwo-thirdsofthenation'stotaleconomicoutputgoestoindividualsforpersonaluse(theremainingone-thirdisboughtbygovernmentandbusiness).Theconsumerroleissogreat,infact,thatthenationiss
3、ometimescharacterizedashavinga"consumereconomy/9Thisemphasisonprivateownershiparises,inpart,fromAmericanbeliefsaboutpersonalfreedom・Fromthetimethenationwascreated,Americanshavefearedexcessivegovernmentpower,andtheyhavesoughttolimitgovernmenfsauthorityoveri
4、ndividuals—includingitsroleintheeconomicrealm・Inaddition,Americansgenerallybelievethataneconomycharacterizedbyprivateownershipislikelytooperatemoreefficientlythanonewithsubstantialgovernmentownership.Wheneconomicforcesareunfettered,Americansbelieve,supplya
5、nddemanddeterminethepricesofgoodsandservices・Prices,inturn,tellbusinesseswhattoproduce;ifpeoplewantmoreofaparticulargoodsthantheeconomyisproducing,thepriceofthegoodsrises.Thatcatchestheattentionofneworothercompaniesthat,sensinganopportunitytoearnprofits,st
6、artproducingmoreofthatgoods・Ontheotherhand,ifpeoplewantlessofthegoods,pricesfallandlesscompetitiveproducerseithergooutofbusinessorstartproducingdifferentgoods・Therearelimitstofreeenterprise,however・Americanshavealwaysbelievedthatsomeservicesarebetterperfor
7、medbypublicratherthanprivateenterprise・Forinstance,intheUnitedStates,governmentisprimarilyresponsiblefortheadministrationofjustice,education,theroadsystem,andnationaldefense.Inthismixedeconomy,individualscanhelpguidetheeconomynotonlythroughthechoicestheyma
8、keasconsumersbutthroughthevotestheycastforofficialswhoshapeeconomicpolicy.Inrecentyears,consumershavevoicedconcernsaboutproductsafety,environmentalthreatsposedbycertainindustrialpractices,andpotentialhealthri