Prices act as a language because they "communicate" the cost of goods and services, thus enabling people to "talk" by buying items.
The aim of the Sherman Act of 1890 (Sherman Anti-Trust Act) was to prevent and to break up large groups of corporations (trusts) that monopolized an area of commerce, and thereby controlled the prices and operations of an industry (such as railroads, steel, or oil). Trusts eliminated the competition that would normally act to keep prices at a free market level.
One of the four main advantages of prices in a free market economy is that they act as signals to both consumers and producers. However, a lack of price stability can lead to uncertainty, which is not an advantage. For example, high volatility in prices can disrupt planning and investment decisions, ultimately harming economic growth. This instability contrasts with the benefits of clear and predictable pricing, which encourages efficient resource allocation.
Most economists see the assumption of continuous market clearing as not very realistic. However, many see the assumption of flexible prices as useful in long-run analysis, since prices are not stuck forever
prices can not act as rationing device
Resources, in a free market, are allocated by buyers and sellers. Buyers determine the quantity determined by their willingness and ability to pay for the products. Prices are determined by supply and demand.
free trade system, sometimes also called a free market system.
The Sherman Act (1890) authorized the federal government to institute proceedings against trusts in order to dissolve them, but Supreme Court rulings prevented federal authorities from using the act for some years. The aim of the "Antitrust Act" was to prevent and to break up large groups of corporations (trusts) that monopolized an area of commerce, and thereby controlled the prices and operations of an industry (such as railroads, steel, or oil). Trusts eliminated the competition that would normally act to keep prices at a free market level. During his term (1901-1909) President Theodore Roosevelt became known as the "trust-buster" for using the Sherman Act to prevent monopolies and business cartels that served to inhibit free enterprise in the US.
Prices in a competitive market are determined by the interaction of supply and demand. When there is high demand for a product or service but limited supply, prices tend to rise. Conversely, when supply exceeds demand, prices typically fall. This constant balancing act between buyers and sellers helps establish the equilibrium price, where the quantity demanded equals the quantity supplied.
A competitive market, firms act with their benefit at heart. If a firm is producing at productive efficiency, it produces goods at a relatively low expenditure, it can sell at low prices and hence compete well in the market.
to prevent monopolies by big corporations or trusts
It stablilzed prices, making the market stable. This is because farmers couldn't harvest crops and make a profit.
Prices act as signals to producers by indicating the relative scarcity or abundance of a good or service in the market. When prices rise, it suggests high demand or limited supply, incentivizing producers to enter the market to capitalize on potential profits. Conversely, falling prices may signal oversupply or diminishing demand, prompting producers to reconsider their participation. This dynamic helps allocate resources efficiently, guiding producers toward sectors with the highest potential returns.