Communism Test
From free market capitalist to communist: 12 statements on who should own and run the economy.
- 12 statements
- About 2 min
- Free, no signup
Essential services such as energy and water should be publicly owned.
How much do you agree?
About this quiz
How it works
- Statements
- 12
- Time
- ~2 min
- Result
- 0 to 100
Capitalism, socialism and communism are answers to one question: who should own and control the economy. Under capitalism most businesses are privately owned and markets set prices. Socialism puts major industries and services under public or worker ownership. Communism, as Marx described it, is the far end: common ownership of all productive property and, eventually, no classes and no state.
This test measures how far your economic views go along that line. It does not ask about any country, party or past government, and a high score says nothing about methods. Many people who score high want public ownership through democratic means.
Every statement comes from the same bank as our full tests and is scored the same way, so your quiz result points in the same direction as the Political Compass Test. Read the full methodology.
The ownership line
Four systems, one question
Who owns the economy, and who decides what it makes? Real countries mix these models, and each label covers many schools of thought. Your score shows which of them your answers sit closest to.
Capitalism
- Who owns
- Private individuals and companies own most businesses and property.
- Who decides
- Owners and investors, competing in markets.
- Markets
- Set most prices, wages and what gets made.
Social democracy
- Who owns
- Mostly private, with public services such as healthcare and schools.
- Who decides
- Markets, steered by taxes, regulation and strong unions.
- Markets
- Kept, with a large welfare state alongside.
Socialism
- Who owns
- Key industries and services are owned by the public or by workers.
- Who decides
- Elected governments, planners or worker councils, depending on the school.
- Markets
- Limited, or used only for some goods.
Communism
- Who owns
- Productive property is held in common, with no private ownership of it.
- Who decides
- The community as a whole, in theory without a separate state.
- Markets
- Replaced by production for need.
Want the longer story? Read socialism vs communism and what Marxism is.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does this communism test measure?
It measures one thing: how far your economic views go toward collective ownership. Six statements favor public ownership, redistribution or unions and six favor private enterprise and markets. Your answers are averaged into a 0 to 100 score.
Does a high score mean I support communist governments?
No. The test asks about economic ideas, not about any country, party or historical regime, and it does not ask about methods such as revolution or one party rule. Many people who score high support democratic socialism.
What is the difference between socialism and communism?
In everyday use, socialism means public or worker ownership of major industries alongside some private property, often reached through elections. Communism, in Marx's theory, is the later stage of full common ownership with no classes and no state. Our guide on socialism versus communism explains the details.
Where would most people land?
Most voters in democracies favor a mixed economy, so scores between about 30 and 70 are common. The extremes need strong agreement with one side on almost every statement.
Is there a test that looks beyond economics?
Yes. The Political Compass Test adds a second axis for liberty and authority, and the Political Values Test scores economics, civil liberty, society and foreign policy separately.
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