in an economic system the main decisions are, for example, allocating resources like labour, capital and oil. prices, too, are controlled. in a command economy, these decisions are taken by a central body, usually the government. this system contrasts that of a market economy where all the economic actors involved make decisions. the benefit of a planned economy is that the planning body has (supposedly) perfect information, and can make a better decision than in the market economy. countries at war sometimes command their people to make things the war needs; the major powers in world war ii did this.