what characteristics of economic systems is the most important to a free market economy? Honest answer?

[Jordan]

Would it be something like social programs or consumer sovereignty or something like that? It might be supply and demand of the people because they are the ones who run it

[Richard B]

support the bottom
stay out of the way of the middle
regulate and restrain the excesses of the top

[Anjaree]

It should be free as you said. The social market economic system developed in Germany cannot be accepted else where even in China.People are in doubt if it is a magic or a Voodoo. But safety-net might be accepted in the system for emergency.