The Collectivize vs Privatize axis asks who should own the economy and how wealth should be shared: the public, through the state or collectives, or individuals and private firms.
Key parts of the economy, such as land, utilities and major industries, should be owned or controlled by the public or by workers, with wealth shared more equally.
Property and businesses should be privately owned, and people should keep the rewards of their work and investment.
The question this axis asks: Should important industries and wealth be shared collectively, or owned and kept privately?
Key industries such as energy, transport and water should be publicly owned.
Nothing is sent anywhere.
The question this axis asks
Should important industries and wealth be shared collectively, or owned and kept privately?
This axis covers ownership (nationalizing or privatizing industries, land and utilities), taxation and redistribution, welfare, and ideas such as a universal basic income or land reform. It asks who should own productive property and how much wealth should be redistributed.
It is related to, but different from, the next axis. Collectivize vs Privatize is about ownership and distribution. Planned vs Laissez-faire is about how much the government directs and regulates the economy.
Neither side is better or worse. They are different answers to the same question.
Key parts of the economy, such as land, utilities and major industries, should be owned or controlled by the public or by workers, with wealth shared more equally.
Typical positions
Property and businesses should be privately owned, and people should keep the rewards of their work and investment.
Typical positions
Scores run from 0% to 100% toward Privatize. Here is how to read them.
| Score | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| 0–15% | Very strongly Collectivize |
| 16–30% | Strongly Collectivize |
| 31–43% | Leaning Collectivize |
| 44–56% | Near the middle |
| 57–69% | Leaning Privatize |
| 70–84% | Strongly Privatize |
| 85–100% | Very strongly Privatize |
A middle score suggests a mixed economy: private business with a meaningful public sector and safety net.
Few economies sit at either end. The Nordic countries combine high taxes and universal services with mostly private ownership, China and Vietnam keep large state sectors alongside private business, and the United States leans toward private ownership with lower redistribution. Estimated profiles of countries and ideologies at each end of this axis.
North Korea98% toward Collectivize
Cuba95% toward Collectivize
Eritrea92% toward Collectivize
Venezuela80% toward Collectivize
Turkmenistan80% toward Collectivize
United States75% toward Privatize
Switzerland70% toward Privatize
Estonia70% toward Privatize
Georgia70% toward Privatize
Ireland68% toward PrivatizeThese are editorial estimates for discussion, not rankings of quality.
Words you may meet in the test statements about this axis.
Universal basic income (UBI) is a regular cash payment from the government to every citizen, with no means test and no work requirement.
Read the explanationLand reform is the redistribution or restructuring of land ownership by the state, often to give more land to small farmers and tenants and to reduce concentrated holdings.
Read the explanationSomething else on your mind? Get in touch
Three statements show one axis. The full test scores every axis and finds your closest countries and ideologies.