There is no clear definition and precise meaning of the term "mixed economy".
There are generally two major definitions of "mixed economy", a political and apolitical definition. The political definition of "mixed economy" refers to the degree of state interventionism in a capitalist market economy, portraying the state as encroaching onto the market under the assumption that the market is the "natural" mechanism for allocating resources. The political definition precludes an extension to non-capitalist systems and is concerned with public policy and state influence in a capitalist market system,[8] whereas the apolitical definition relates to patterns of ownership and management of economic enterprises in a society. The apolitical definition of "mixed economy" refers to a mix of public and private ownership of enterprises in the economy and is unconcerned with political forms and public policy.[9]