Buyer reactions then indicate how much of each shall be produced. For many good reasons, government spending patterns tend to be largely stable. Yet even private monopolies may act progressively. And most of the world of business is freer and more competitive than government. How to Produce Most goods can be produced, and most desires for services satisfied, in more than one way.
Some methods are better than others.
The general welfare objective is to use the minimum of inputs per unit of output. The closer the economy comes to this objective, the greater the total output obtainable from the productive resources available. In the business world, the hope for profit and the fear of loss act powerfully to compel economizing in production. Freedom provides opportunity - and more. One producer's aggressiveness in cost cutting is another's challenge or threat.