Merits of the Market System

In a market system, resources move automatically as a result of changes in price.

Price changes are determined by the interaction of demand and supply.
A market economy relies on the market system.
A mixed economy relies, in part on the market system.
The use of resources is changing all the time in response to changes in consumer
demand and costs of production.
Resources move towards those products whose demand is rising and away from
those which are becoming less popular.
Market forces also ration out products when their supply falls short of demand.
The market sorts out who will receive the products by raising the price. Those who
are able to pay the higher price will be able to consume the product.
One of the benefits claimed for a market system is choice.
The market system encourages efficiency by rewarding those entrepreneurs and
workers, who respond to market signals and punishes those who do not.
In labour markets, workers increase their chance of earning high wages by
developing those skills that are in high demand, working hard, accepting more
responsibility and by being willing to change their nature and place of work.

Not in the syllabus

Allocative efficiency occurs when resources are allocated in a way that maximises
consumers satisfaction. This means that firms produce the products that consumers
demand in the right quantities.
Competition can play a key role the process whereby market forces, by changing
price, should eliminate shortages and surpluses and move markets towards allocative
efficiency.
A firm is said to be productively efficient when it produces at the lowest possible
cost per unit.
If a firm is productively efficient, it means that it is not wasting resources.
Resources not put to good use: some workers unemployed, some workers lying idle
and some factory and office space may be empty. Also, there may be some workers
involved in jobs to which they are not best suited and the capabilities of some capital
goods may not be fully exploited.
Dynamic efficiency arises when resources are used efficiently, over a period of time.
The profit incentive and threat of going out of business can encourage firms in a
market system to spend money on research and development and to innovate.
A market system rewards efficiency and punishes inefficiency.
If a market system is working well, it will be automatically allocating resources
according to the consumer demand.
Market forces can also promote the improvement of methods of production and a
rise in quality of the products made by putting competitive pressure on
entrepreneurs and workers and by providing them with incentives to respond to
changes in market conditions.