The Price Signals of the Market Indicate to Individuals the Appraisal that Others Make of Their Possible Actions, as Reckoned in Monetary Terms

In Mises's vision, the market economy is a process through which individuals coordinate their activities in a voluntary fashion. In the market, no one can force anybody else to serve him, but ironically the price signals of the market—sometimes called market forces—indicate to individuals the appraisal that others make of their possible actions, as reckoned in monetary terms. To give a simple example: In the market economy, nobody can force a musician to tour the world and perform her hit songs for her fans. However, her agent can estimate for the musician just how much she would be able to earn if she were to go on a world tour. She always retains the freedom to retire and never sing another note, but the market process gives an indication to the musician of just how much other people would benefit from her decision to continue performing.

--Robert P. Murphy, Choice: Cooperation, Enterprise, and Human Action (Oakland, CA: Independent Institute, 2015), Kindle e-book, 117-118.