In a command economy, business activities and the use of resources are decided by the government, and not by market forces. the Czech Republic's transition from a command economy to a market system. An economy that is planned and controlled by a central administration, as in the former Soviet Union. Economic system in which the means of production are publicly owned and economic activity is controlled by a central authority. Central planners determine the assortment of goods to be produced, allocate raw materials, fix quotas for each enterprise, and set prices. Most communist countries have had command economies; capitalist countries may also adopt such a system during national emergencies (e.g., wartime) in order to mobilize resources quickly. See also capitalism; communism