A society where economic power is concentrated in the hands of government officials and political authorities is called?

• A. a central state control system.
• B. a free market economy.
• C. a market socialism.
• D. a corporate oligarchy.

Answer: (A)

This question tests understanding of how economic power is organized in a society. When government officials and political authorities hold the economic power and direct what is produced, how resources are allocated, and how goods and services are distributed, the system is a centralized, state-controlled economy. This is typically described as a central state control system or command economy, where planning decisions come from the state rather than market forces. In contrast, a free market relies on private ownership and price signals; market socialism uses markets alongside public ownership; and a corporate oligarchy concentrates power in business elites rather than in state officials. Therefore, the description best matching the scenario is a central state control system.