Question

select the correct answer.

what allows consumers to receive goods and services in a non-price rationing system?

• consumers ability to pay
• first-come first-served
• free of cost
• lottery

Explanation:

Analyze the question context

The question asks what allows consumers to receive goods and services in a non-price rationing system. This relates to Economic Systems and how resources are allocated when the Price Mechanism is not used.

Evaluate the options

• consumer's ability to pay: This is the primary mechanism in a market-based Price Mechanism system, not a non-price system.
• first-come, first-served: In a non-price rationing system (often seen in a Command Economy or during shortages), goods are allocated based on waiting in line or queuing. This is a classic non-price rationing method.
• free of cost: While goods might be distributed without a direct monetary price, "free of cost" itself is not the mechanism that determines who receives the limited goods.
• lottery: While a lottery is a form of non-price allocation, the most common everyday mechanism for distributing standard consumer goods in non-price systems (like historical command economies) is queuing, represented by "first-come, first-served".

Determine the correct choice

"first-come, first-served" is the standard mechanism that determines allocation when prices are not allowed to clear the market.

Answer:

• consumer's ability to pay
• first-come, first-served (Correct answer)
• free of cost
• lottery