Final answer:
The Galactic Republic's economy before the Emperor's rule, with minimal government intervention and private ownership of businesses, closely resembles a free-market capitalist system, albeit with slight touches of government oversight to ensure fair practices and public service funding.
Step-by-step explanation:
The economy described in the Galactic Republic before the emperor took over, where people privately owned businesses and industries with minimal taxes and regulation allowing them to determine their own prices, wages, and levels of production, most closely resembles a free-market capitalist economy. In such an economy, the government's role is limited, and it is the market forces of supply and demand that drive economic decisions. However, significant government intervention in the economy, as seen during the Great Depression or to regulate monopolies, can shift a free-market towards a more mixed economy. Nevertheless, the description provided implies a strong adherence to capitalist principles with only a touch of government regulation to ensure fair play and collect taxes for public services.