What is the definition of a "Free Market"?

[dmatic]

One of the statements in our mission statement is...to advance and defend God given liberty...by promoting free markets...

So, the question popped up: What is a free market? And are there any free markets in the world? Thanks

[Samuel Adams]

No government interference, period.

Buyer beware.

[dmatic]

No government interference, period.

Buyer beware.

By interference, do you mean price controls and regulations, or even the assurance of honesty and enforcement of just weights and measures as well?

[dissimulo]

In the simplest sense, it is an economy in which the government does not set prices and wages. But since all governments regulate in ways that affect price and wages, it is aspirational rather than absolute. This is similar to the concept of freedom in general. Having a government that makes rules is in direct opposition to freedom, but we trade away a certain amount of freedom for safety and stability.

[Samuel Adams]

Buyer beware.

Otherwise there is no free market.

True Liberty is a double-edged sword, and most, by far, really don’t care for it.

[Miradus]

Buyer beware? SELLER beware too.

Around here you see the free market peeking out from under the rubble of the government controlled economy in various ways. A lot of "illegal" food trucks parked on the road around payday as someone tries to make a little money, or the fishermen sell their catch on the side of the road in front of their houses.

I never go to one of those food stands the first time I see it. I want it to know it's been in place for awhile and plenty of other people are eating there too. Why? Because if they were selling bad food nobody would stand for it. The answer to getting food poisoning or finding out you've been eating dog meat wouldn't be, "I'm going to report you to the government" but instead it would be losing some teeth when the angry public catches up to you.

More often than not the government protects bad businesses from the people they've screwed over. I don't know exactly what a free market looks like since they haven't existed in the United States since before I was born. But I have seen glimpses of what markets look like outside of government control and I tend to prefer those.

[dmatic]

Buyer beware? SELLER beware too.

Around here you see the free market peeking out from under the rubble of the government controlled economy in various ways. A lot of "illegal" food trucks parked on the road around payday as someone tries to make a little money, or the fishermen sell their catch on the side of the road in front of their houses.

I never go to one of those food stands the first time I see it. I want it to know it's been in place for awhile and plenty of other people are eating there too. Why? Because if they were selling bad food nobody would stand for it. The answer to getting food poisoning or finding out you've been eating dog meat wouldn't be, "I'm going to report you to the government" but instead it would be losing some teeth when the angry public catches up to you.

More often than not the government protects bad businesses from the people they've screwed over. I don't know exactly what a free market looks like since they haven't existed in the United States since before I was born. But I have seen glimpses of what markets look like outside of government control and I tend to prefer those.

I like your point! Buyer and seller beware! We should all fear God and treat one another the way we would like to be treated. What we are looking for is a just and fair system. Wherein all are treated fairly and justly. Government is not to protect bad businesses, obviously. Nor those who steal from innocent sellers when their backs are turned. Most of us realize that we need a government, because hearts are still wicked and deceitful. So, what does a righteous government look like? Stealing from wealth producers, to "subsidize" favored "business", whether it be farming or candlestick making, is unjust and is definitely not a free market situation.

[PatDaly]

Buyer beware.

Otherwise there is no free market.

True Liberty is a double-edged sword, and most, by far, really don’t care for it.

Precisely.

[PatDaly]

By interference, do you mean price controls and regulations, or even the assurance of honesty and enforcement of just weights and measures as well?

Yes.

[Green Man]

No government interference, period.

Buyer beware.

Allowing cheating is alright? At am minimum, I'd be cool with enough careful government supervision to avoid the corruption of weights and measures.

Supervision of the government too. I favor enough government control that would prevent most of us becoming serfs.