re: Assumes a relatively free market.
Markets don't have to be crooked to be unstable, or irrational. OTOH, there's plenty of crooked to go around, too. Private enterprise is not perfectly free to control markets for its own benefit, but neither are they helpless before market forces, either. It's a fluid, constant struggle with shifting alliances, private agendas, criminals and misguided crusaders. But large corporations do have powerful weapons, lawyers, advertising budgets, lobbyists, campaign contributions, legitimate alliances, trade organizations, friends in high places, and, of course, secret treaties.