FREE ENTERPRISE: A term that's often used, erroneously, in reference to capitalism. In principle, free enterprise is an economy in which businesses and consumers are "free" to engage their resources in any desired production, consumption, or exchange without government restriction, regulation, or control. See also | capitalism | laissez faire | resources | production | consumption | market | market-oriented economy | exchange | regulation | second estate | third estate | wealth | stock market | scarcity | economy |
