The problem with these descriptions, however, is that very few economic systems stick to one school of thought. Enter mixed economies, which combine a free market ethos with a socialist-shaped safety net. As a general rule, government intervention in mixed economies is present but falls short of deciding the goods and services that will be produced, how they will be produced, who will produce them, and how much people will pay for them. Instead, the government's primary role is to ensure some degree of social welfare is maintained.
Upsides and downsides of mixed economies
There are advantages and disadvantages to a mixed economy. Among the advantages: