What did the founders believe would protect the public in a free marketplace?

The founders believed that a competitive free marketplace would protect the public by fostering innovation, encouraging fair pricing, and ensuring quality through consumer choice. They thought that the natural dynamics of supply and demand would regulate business practices, preventing monopolies and promoting accountability among producers. Additionally, they valued the role of informed consumers who could make choices based on their preferences and needs, thereby holding businesses accountable. This belief in self-regulation was foundational to their vision of a capitalist economy.