Which question is NOT one of the three essential economic questions?

The correct answer is based on the foundational concepts of economics, which revolve around the allocation of scarce resources. The three essential economic questions that every society must address are: what to produce, how to produce it, and who gets it.

The first question, "What to produce?" focuses on deciding which goods and services should be produced based on consumer needs and resource availability. The second question, "How to produce it?" deals with the methods and technologies used in the production process, considering efficiency and sustainability. The third question, "Who gets it?" addresses the distribution of these goods and services among the members of society, which relates to issues of equity and access.

While "When to produce?" may be relevant in certain contexts, such as seasonal production cycles or market timing, it is not considered one of the core essential economic questions that all economies must resolve. Therefore, identifying "When to produce?" as not being fundamental highlights how this question does not fall under the primary concerns of resource allocation and economic planning known in the study of economics.