Market economy

A market economy is an economy based on the division of labor in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system set by supply and demand. This is often contrasted with a planned economy, in which a central government determines the price of goods and services using a fixed price system.

Market economies are contrasted with mixed economy where the price system is not entirely free but under some government control that is not extensive enough to constitute a planned economy. In the real world, market economies do not exist in pure form, as societies and governments regulate them to varying degrees rather than allow self-regulation by market forces. 

Different perspectives such exist as to how strong a role the government should have in both guiding the economy and addressing the inequalities the market produces. For example, there is no universal agreement on issues such as central banking, and welfare. However, most economists oppose protectionist tariffs.

The term free-market economy is sometimes used synonymously with market economy also pointed out that a market economy is still a market economy even if the government intervenes in pricing and market allocation of final goods and services; the labor-managed market economy is one of several proposed forms of market socialism.