Free Enterprise

Free Enterprise
An economic system where few restrictions are placed on business activities and ownership. In this system, governments generally have minimal ownership of enterprises in the market place. This system aims for limited restrictions on trade and minimal government intervention.

The free enterprise movement started in the 1700s, when many individuals were restricted from starting and owning their own business without the permission of the government. The movement looked to reduce ownership and other related restrictions, such as how one should operate their business and who they were allowed to trade with.

Over time, the focus of this movement has shifted. A lot of its causes have been incorprated in most free-market systems. In the U.S. free enterprise advocates continue to fight for fewer restrictions along with fighting against any new developments that would restrict free enterprise.


Investment dictionary. . 2012.

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  • Free enterprise — may refer to:* Free enterprise system or Free enterprise economy , another term for capitalism * Free Enterprise , a film featuring William ShatnerThree important rights people have in the free enterprise system? …   Wikipedia

  • free enterprise — ➔ enterprise * * * free enterprise UK US noun [U] ECONOMICS ► a system in which businesses compete with each other freely and without government involvement: »It is a political party that believes in limited government, free enterprise, and… …   Financial and business terms

  • free-enterprise — adj. Of or pertaining to the {free enterprise} system having private ownership of the means of production and competition between enterprises. [prenominal] [Narrower terms: {capitalistic, capitalist}] {socialistic} Syn: competitive, private… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • free enterprise — n. 1. an economic system having predominantly private ownership of the means of production, and relying chiefly on market forces to allocate goods and resources and to determine prices, and having a minimum of governmental interference in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • free enterprise — free enterprising, adj. 1. an economic and political doctrine holding that a capitalist economy can regulate itself in a freely competitive market through the relationship of supply and demand with a minimum of governmental intervention and… …   Universalium

  • free enterprise — free′ en′terprise n. 1) bus the doctrine that a capitalist economy can regulate itself in a competitive market on the basis of supply and demand with a minimum of governmental regulation 2) bus the practice of free enterprise • Etymology: 1885–90 …   From formal English to slang

  • free enterprise — n [U] the principle and practice of allowing private business to operate without much government control →↑private enterprise …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • free enterprise — ► NOUN ▪ an economic system in which private business operates in competition and largely free of state control …   English terms dictionary

  • free enterprise — noun uncount an economic system in which businesses can compete with each other without being controlled by government …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • free enterprise — n. the economic doctrine or practice of permitting private industry to operate under freely competitive conditions with a minimum of governmental control …   English World dictionary

  • free enterprise — Synonyms and related words: autarky, bimetallism, bourgeois, capitalism, capitalist, capitalistic system, economic self sufficiency, finance capitalism, free competition, free economy, free trade, free enterprise economy, free enterprise system,… …   Moby Thesaurus

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