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A free market is an economic system where everyone is free to participate as they like without interference from a government or similar power such as a monopoly. This is based on the idea that by simply allowing everyone to act in their own interests that an economy will grow and function efficiently. In practice, free markets are regulated to ensure fair and efficient competition.
Anyone in a free market can decide to start a business and supply goods, services, assets, investments or labor to the market. This can be contrasted with a system of central planning where a government decides what should be produced or where people should work.Anyone in a free market can purchase goods, services, assets, investments or hire employees. Customers demand goods according to their needs and preferences. There is competition between suppliers to attract customer demand. As such, suppliers are constantly improving products and/or cutting costs thus driving economic efficiency.
PricesFree markets are competitive with prices set by supply and demand. This is efficient as it reflects the economics of production and value for each good.OutputThe output quantity of goods and services in a free market is also set by supply and demand. Where supply is perfectly balanced with demand there are no surpluses or shortages of goods. This can be compared with a system of central planning whereby shortages and surpluses may be common.
There are many ways that participants in a free market can inhibit free and open competition. As such, a pure free market can't exist because a monopoly would quickly emerge that would resemble government control. Generally speaking, well designed government regulation benefits free markets by ensuring they remain competitive, fair and open.
One of the problems with the idea that free markets should not be regulated in any way is that this leaves no protection for common goods such as air and water. This leads to destruction of common goods as there is no individual incentive to preserve common resources. Governments can design markets to price common resources and put limits on pollution and resource depletion.
InformationAnother way that government regulation can benefit free markets is by ensuring that market participants have the information they need to make decisions. Otherwise, participants would be likely to hide information that would lead to a breakdown in competition and economic efficiency. For example, product manufacturers might hide information about product safety as opposed to competing to make safer products. Firms might hide negative information from investors as opposed to improving and managing risk. Sellers might misrepresent assets to buyers.
Free Market Regulation It is common to refer to an economy as a "free market" when government involvement is focused on creating an open, fair and efficient market as opposed to controlling prices and production decisions. Government regulations in areas such as securities laws, environmental and consumer protection can increase competition and efficiency as opposed to limiting it. |
| Type | | | Definition (1) | An economic system where everyone is free to participate as they like without interference from a government or similar power such as a monopoly. | | Definition (2) | An economic system where government involvement is limited to ensuring that markets are fair, open, competitive and efficient. | | Related Concepts | |
Markets
This is the complete list of articles we have written about markets.
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A definition of markets with examples.
An overview of the Efficient Market Hypothesis.
A definition of two-sided market with examples.
The definition of market failure with examples.
A complete overview of competitive markets with examples.
The primary forces that shape competition in a market.
The definition of a threat of substitutes with examples.
A complete overview of the gig economy with examples.
The definition of barter with examples and comparisons.
Everyday examples of economics.
An overview of economic scale with examples.
An overview of trade wars with examples.
The common types of market conditions.
The definition of macroeconomics with examples.
The definition of information economics with examples.
A complete overview of traditional economies with examples.
The definition of a developed country with an overview of common characteristics.
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