Which of the following best describes a difference between communism and socialism, as discussed in positive and normative analysis?

• A. Communism supports individual profit maximization, while socialism opposes any form of profit.
• B. Communism advocates for the abolition of private property, while socialism allows for some private ownership under government regulation.
• C. Socialism requires a completely free market, while communism relies on central planning.
• D. Socialism and communism both reject any form of government intervention in the economy.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key economic systems involved—communism and socialism—and their fundamental characteristics in terms of ownership and control of resources.
2. Step 2: Recall that communism typically involves the abolition of private property, meaning all means of production are owned collectively or by the state, aiming for a classless society.
3. Step 3: Recognize that socialism allows for some degree of private ownership but usually under significant government regulation and intervention to promote social welfare and reduce inequality.
4. Step 4: Differentiate these from other concepts such as free markets or profit maximization, which are more associated with capitalism rather than communism or socialism.
5. Step 5: Use positive analysis to describe what these systems are (factual differences) and normative analysis to discuss what they ought to be or support, focusing on ownership and government roles as the main distinguishing factors.