Yes, people confuse “free” (unregulated) with “competetive market” all the time.
If “free” means “no barriers to market entry or exit and even distribution of market power” then they’re similar.
But if free means “no regulation” then it’ll just be a race to accumulate the most market power (and political and military force) and use that to suppress competition. Features like slavey and indentured debtors has commonly occurred in ‘free’ (unregulated) markets, but it is just about the complete opposite of ‘no barriers and even market power’.
Yes, people confuse “free” (unregulated) with “competetive market” all the time.
If “free” means “no barriers to market entry or exit and even distribution of market power” then they’re similar.
But if free means “no regulation” then it’ll just be a race to accumulate the most market power (and political and military force) and use that to suppress competition. Features like slavey and indentured debtors has commonly occurred in ‘free’ (unregulated) markets, but it is just about the complete opposite of ‘no barriers and even market power’.
‘Free’ is a not a great word in this context.