Difference Between Capitalism and Socialism
Often some of us happen to say that we are becoming more and more capitalist due to the burgeoning industry while the number of poor is increasing. While economists are best suited to respond, we should also know what it means. It becomes easier to participate in discussions with our friends and relatives. Knowing about the difference between socialism and capitalism allows us to improve our self-esteem in front of others.
Let us comprehend what is the difference between socialism and capitalism. On the one hand, we have a free economy with an excellent environment for the economy. On the other hand, we have equality for all sections of society, and importance is given to all people equally.
However, some of us have problems in comprehending the meaning of these terms. We should know the meaning of such words to be able to participate in debates. In this article, we will compare and contrast capitalism and socialism.
Definition of Capitalism
Capitalism is defined as an economic system where industries and properties are owned and controlled by isolated firms or persons. It does not matter if the business and property are owned by one person or a group of people as long as the federal authorities are not entitled to them. This system is also referred to as a capitalist economy, and the owners are referred to as entrepreneurs or just capitalists.
According to history, the official development of capitalism can be dated to the 16th century, during the boom of the English cloth industry. However, there is evidence of some antecedents of this system in existence before then. The supply of precious metals by Europeans also played a huge role.
Some interesting features of the capitalism vs socialism systems can be seen in the classism displayed within society. In the case of the former, it is argued that inequality is essential to encourage innovativeness and growth. This means that the harder you work, the more you achieve and the higher your class. This is not the case with the latter as you will see in the next section.
Definition of Socialism
Socialism is defined as an economic system with greater government intervention in redistributing resources in a more egalitarian manner. It is referred to as a socialist economy, and the political authorities play a major role in terms of proprietorship and regulation of economic resources. There is no room for any self-interested participation or benefits in this system.
Still examining the same concept, this system is referred to as “centralized planning,” and the primary aim is to ensure an equitable distribution of resources to all members of the system. This means everyone gets equal opportunities and privileges irrespective of their input.
In comparing socialism vs capitalism, it has been argued that the latter fosters efficiency because of the profit incentive, which is not present in the case of the former. In contrast, the former places the highest priority on economic equality rather than efficiency and economic growth.
Capitalism vs Socialism Comparison Table
We will now look into differences between socialism and capitalism in a tabular form.
| Basis of Comparison | Capitalism | Socialism |
| What it means | The resources are owned by private individuals | The resources are owned by the government |
| What about prices | Determined by the demand from the target market | Price is controlled by the authorities |
| What it encourages | Individualistic desire to achieve goals but also improves the overall quality of life | Supposed to ensure equality in society but difficult to provide a thriving society |
| What about competition | Highly competitive business scenario | No competition leading to laxity in the will to progress |
| Sharing the wealth | The high difference in wealth among all people | Equal distribution of wealth |
| What are the issues | Failure to keep up with the competition; inequality amongst the masses | The authorities are lax in providing the resources; few incentives for growth |
Conclusion of the Main Difference Between Capitalism vs Socialism
Capitalism allows the industry to thrive and flourish, leading to high overall growth in the economy of the country. On the other hand, socialism allows equality of all people and ensures anyone gets the same amount of resources. We have gone through the details about what is the difference between capitalism and socialism.
However, the agencies are usually lacking in know-how and the will to ensure growth. Often, there is no incentive to provide a thriving economy. While on the one hand, we expect to share resources equally; on the other hand, we find a concentration of resources amongst a few people but a thriving economy.
In this article, we have delved into detail about the variance in the meaning of these terms and learnt how are capitalism and socialism different. We will look forward to your suggestions and comments in the future.
