So far the argument has been made in terms of the input and output matrices, A, L and B (and A′, L′ and B′), of the von Neumann type in the sense that they regard intermediate products and used capital goods as inputs of some production processes and output of some other or the same processes. Von Neumann assesses each process at stationary equilibrium prices and assumes that those processes which can yield profits only at a rate that is less than the maximum rate will not be employed by entrepreneurs. Concerning the quantity aspect of the economy he concentrates his attention on a state of growth equilibrium where the activity level of each and every process expands at a uniform rate. In this state of growth equilibrium, if the commodities are produced more than they are demanded, they are in excess supply and will become free goods whose prices are zero. Excluding these free goods, von Neumann's equilibrium is a long-run steady growth equilibrium with all processes expanding at an equalized rate.

It is clear that such a state, though one may imagine it, is very far from the reality of an actual economy. It is impossible to assume that it may approximate the actual movement of the economy even in the long run, whilst it obviously does not in the short run. The actual economy is always at a transition stage from one state to another; the proportions of its sectors are subject to constant fluctuations.