Conversely, its television-producing competitor may find its sales declining. In practice, tens of thousands of firms do well, and thousands go out of business, every year. Harsh as the consumers' judgment may feel to someone who loses a job or an investment, the market works on a principle of equality. In a free market no firm gets special privileges from government, and each must constantly satisfy consumers to stay in business. Markets reward honesty because people are more willing to do business with those who have a reputation for honesty.
Markets reward civility because people prefer to deal with courteous partners and suppliers.
Socialism It is the absence of market prices that makes socialism impossible, as Ludwig von Mises pointed out in the 1920s. Everyone knows that a platinum soup can would be ridiculous, but we know it because the price system tells us so. An engineer would tell you that silver or platinum wire would conduct electricity better than copper. Because it delivers the best results for the cost. That's an economic problem, not an engineering problem.