Economic System Essay

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An economic system is a system that includes the production, distribution, and consumption of commodities and services among different entities in a society. The system is composed of people and institutions, including their relationships to productive resources, such as through the contract of property. In a given economy, it is the systemic means by which problems of economics are addressed. Examples of contemporary economic systems include capitalist systems, communist systems, and the economic system of Islam. The first two systems are man-designed systems, while the latter is derived from the scripture of the Islamic religion. Capitalism is based on three basic principles: personal profit as a target, competition as a means, and freedom as a precondition. Capitalism allows private ownership and gives absolute freedom to an individual to do as they please. It is based on the policy of laissez-faire; let individuals do as they please. The state does not interfere in business. It is an individual that decides what to produce, how much to produce, where to sell, and at what price to sell. Capitalist economists say that such freedoms encourage healthy competition among individuals that speeds up economic progress. These principles have brought tremendous economic progress along with numerous problems as well. Capitalism has promoted a blameworthy class system, concentration of wealth into a few hands, and a disintegrated society. It has also brought record-high inflations where prices in some developing countries have risen up 50% in a matter of a few months. Communism, on the other hand, emerged as a reaction to capitalism, another extreme against an existing one. Communism is based on absolute nationalization in which the state owns land, real estate, and means of production. The state controls the distribution of goods and services. However, communism has failed to deliver on its promises of equality and has resulted in authoritarian regimes. Islam, on the other hand, considers what the society ought to be, separate from the issue of securing the satisfaction of the basic needs for every individual, and enabling man to satisfy his desire for luxuries. Rather, Islam makes the satisfaction of needs and what the society ought to be, as two matters that are inseparable from each other by considering what the society ought to be as a basis for satisfying the needs. For the sake of satisfying all the basic needs completely and enabling satisfaction of luxuries, the economic commodity should be available to people, and it will not be available to them unless they strive to earn it. Therefore, Islam encourages people to earn, seek provision, and strive. And it made striving to earn the provision compulsory. Allah (swt) said: "So walk in the paths of the earth and eat of His sustenance which He provides." [Al-Mulk 67:15]

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