In a free market economy, all the resources are allocated by the private sector (individuals, households, and groups of individuals); in a planned economy, all the resources are owned by the public sector (local and central government); and, in a mixed economy, some resources are owned by both sectors, private and public.
U tržišnim privredama, sve resurse dostavlja privatni sektor (pojedinci, domaćistva, grupe pojedinaca); u planskoj privredi, svi resursi su u vlasništvu javnog sektora (lokalna ili centralna vlast); i, u mešovitoj privredi, neki resursi su u vlasništvu oba sektora, privatnog i javnog.