An economy that allows an individual to personally own a business with little or no interference from the government is a:

A market economy is characterized by private ownership of businesses and minimal government intervention in the marketplace. In this type of economy, individuals have the freedom to make their own economic choices, including what to produce, how to produce it, and for whom to produce. The forces of supply and demand primarily drive the market, allowing prices to fluctuate based on consumer preferences and resource availability.

In a market economy, competition among businesses fosters innovation and efficiency, benefiting consumers through better quality products and services at lower prices. This system embraces the idea of free enterprise, where anyone can start and operate a business, leading to diverse options for consumers and opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Other economic systems, such as command economies, involve significant government control over all aspects of production and distribution, often stifling individual ownership and initiative. Mixed economies include elements of both market and command economies, but they do not fully enable the unrestricted personal ownership that defines a market economy. Communist economies, on the other hand, advocate for communal ownership of resources, allowing little to no personal ownership of businesses. Thus, the defining feature of a market economy is precisely that it allows individuals the freedom to own and operate businesses with minimal governmental interference.