市场交换是构成市场经济的基本要素,但是市场经济并不仅仅由市场交换结合而成。不可能将一切经济活动都变为市场交换,因为市场经济的持续存在以一系列非市场交换的社会因素为基础,市场经济运行的效率更要求有各种各样非市场的社会设施。在这些社会因素和社会设施中,最重要的是政府,而政府正是靠它对所有人都适用的强制性权力,才对市场经济的持续存在和运行效率如此重要。家庭和企业对现代市场经济的有效运行甚至存在也都必不可少,但是它们的内部都不是按市场交换的方式来运行的。市场经济之所以不能脱离这些非市场的社会机构,不仅是因为现实社会中必定会出现各种“市场失灵”的因素,而且是因为不可能人人都完全自觉地遵守自愿交换的道德准则。 Market exchange is the basic element of a market economy, but the market economy is not merely a combination of market exchange. It is impossible to turn all economic activities into market exchanges because the continuous existence of a market economy is based on a series of social factors that are not market-based exchanges. The efficiency of the operation of a market economy also requires a variety of non-market social facilities. The most important of these social and social facilities is the government, which is so important to the persistence and operational efficiency of the market economy by virtue of its mandatory power for all. Families and businesses are essential to the effective operation of the modern market economy, but neither of them operate in a market-based manner. The reason why a market economy can not be separated from these non-market social institutions is not only because of various “market failures” in the real world, but also because it is impossible for all to fully comply with the moral code of voluntary exchange .