What is a key characteristic of a command economy?

A key characteristic of a command economy is that the government owns all factors of production. This means that all resources and means of production, such as land, labor, and capital, are controlled by the state. The government's ownership allows it to make decisions about what to produce, how much to produce, and for whom to produce, with the goal of meeting the needs and goals of the society as a whole. In a command economy, there is typically little to no room for private ownership or market mechanisms that would typically drive production and distribution in a market economy.

This system contrasts sharply with characteristics such as market competition, which would imply a more capitalist approach where private entities operate without direct government control. Additionally, while equal distribution of wealth might be an objective of some command economies, it is not a defining characteristic of how a command economy functions. Instead, the method of determining production and distribution is primarily through government planning and allocation.