Why is competition an important part of a free market system?

Answer 1

Competition is very important in a free market system because it helps drive prices down which in turn increases sales. For example, there was a gas station where I live that was able to charge $.05 to $.10 per gallon more for gas than the next town because they didn't have any competition. Customers would rather pay a bit more because of the convenience of it. When a competitor built a gas station across the street, the gas prices went down because both companies were trying to attract the same customers. When there is competition, the customer wins.

Answer 2

Competition is important because it is a mechanism for driving out inefficient producers. Competition forces producers to lower prices.