Final answer:
The collapse of the Soviet Union marked a significant shift from government-owned to privately-owned business structures, moving from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented system with democratic governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the observed shift was from a centrally planned economy to a more open market system with increasing private ownership. Western European ideals such as democratic governance, market economies, and privatization started influencing the former Soviet states. The transition from communism to capitalism was catalyzed by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's efforts through policies such as perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness).
Subsequent economic reforms led to the selling or transferring of government-owned businesses to private individuals. These changes were part of a larger shift towards democratic processes, freeing the political and economic systems of the Eastern bloc from the control of the old Soviet Union. The transition aimed at growth and development which many of the nations had stagnated under previous communist rule.
It's essential to note that while the Soviet Union and other communist countries moved towards more market-oriented systems, the spectrum of economies around the world varies, with some countries integrating both command and market economy elements. The collapse of the Soviet Union, therefore, marks one of the most significant global shifts from government-owned to privately-owned business structures.