You could just as easily say it's the market that works in the context of politics, the market can only go so far, due to policy limits. I.e you can't build a nuclear reactor without approval so policy can durectly control market competition.

You could, but you would be wrong as the market is universal. You can manipulate it, but ultimately it limits what you can do.

the market is a social construct just like politics, there is nothing universal about it

All children discover it though, so it is universal to humans. A few other animals have it as well.