Resource allocation is about deciding how to use limited resources to meet human wants. Every economy must answer three key questions:
1. The Three Key Economic Questions
What to produce?
Decides which goods and services should be made (e.g., food vs. luxury cars).
How to produce?
Chooses between labor-intensive or capital-intensive methods.
For whom to produce?
Determines who gets the goods—based on income, need, or government policy.
2. Factors Influencing Resource Allocation
Price Mechanism (Market Economy) – Supply and demand decide allocation.
Government Intervention (Planned & Mixed Economies) – Taxes, subsidies, and public services influence decisions.
Opportunity Cost – Choosing one option means giving up another.
Economic Efficiency – Maximizing output without waste.
3. Economic Systems and Resource Allocation

4. Production Possibility Curve (PPC)
Shows trade-offs between two goods.
Inside the curve = inefficient use of resources.
Outside the curve = unattainable with current resources.
Conclusion
Scarcity forces choices in all economies. Whether through markets or government planning, resource allocation impacts efficiency, growth, and fairness.
How do businesses decide how to allocate resources to maximize profit?
What are the consequences of misallocation of resources?
How does resource allocation impact social welfare and equity?
What is the role of technology in improving resource allocation?
How does resource allocation differ between planned and mixed economies?
What are some examples of resource allocation in global environmental sustainability?
How do opportunity costs factor into decisions about resource allocation?
keywords
Production possibility frontier (PPF)
Equity
Pareto efficiency
Cost-benefit analysis
Marginal utility
Public goods
Sustainable development
Economic planning
Optimal allocation
1. What role does the price mechanism play in determining resource allocation in market economies?
2. How does government intervention, such as taxation and subsidies, influence resource allocation in mixed economies?
3. How does scarcity necessitate trade-offs in production and resource allocation decisions?