What is the intent when the government sets ground rules for competitive activity?

There are two basic intents:

- First is to put in place a competitive marketplace where orderly commerce can occur. This would include tools for enforcing contracts and a set of basic rights and responsibilities for those doing business.

- Second would be protection against abusive or unfair practices in the market. When Russia converted from state-run commerce the result could be described as "mob capitalism". This occurred because the government failed to put into place such protections and force, violence, and corruption was rampant in the marketplace.