An economic system that encourages state ownership and control of the means of production is

1. Analyze the question The question asks which economic system is built on state ownership and control of the means of production (land, factories, mines, etc.).

2. Explain the concepts

• Capitalism: Means of production are privately owned, and the market (supply and demand) drives the economy. This is the opposite of state ownership.
• Fascism: Mainly a political ideology (authoritarian, ultra-nationalist). It is not primarily defined as an economic system, and it usually allows private ownership under state direction.
• Communism: The ideal is a classless, stateless society where the means of production are owned communally by everyone. The state is expected to "wither away" eventually.
• Socialism: The state (government) owns and controls the major means of production and distributes wealth more equally, with the aim of reducing class differences.

3. Work through the options

• D (capitalism) is out because it favours private ownership.
• C (fascism) is out because it is not mainly an economic system.
• Between A and B: communism is, in theory, common ownership with no state in the end. Socialism is the system where the state owns and controls the means of production. Since the question stresses "state ownership and control," socialism is the best fit.

(Note: in practice, communist states such as the former USSR also had state control.)

4. Answer A. Socialism

5. Exam tip Match the keyword to the system:

• Private ownership → Capitalism
• State ownership → Socialism
• Common/communal ownership (classless, stateless) → Communism