political ideologies

Type of government

Dictatorship by force, if necessary

Democracy

Democracy

Dictatorship by force, if necessary

Acquisition and retention of power

One-party system, opposition parties banned

Free election, multi-party system, opposition parties allowed

Free election, multi-party system, opposition parties allowed

One-party system, opposition parties banned

Electoral process

One-party system

Multi-party system

Multi-party system

One-party system

Type of economy

Command

Command

Market

Market

Government involvement in the economy

Full control

Full to high control

Little control

Little control (as long as all state requirements are met)

Ownership of productive resources

State ownership

State ownership (with private ownership under free-enterprise socialism)

Private ownership

Private ownership

Freedom of enterprise

Restricted

Restricted; less open access

Open access

Open access (as long as state needs are met)

Self-interest

Emphasis on collective needs rather than self-interest

Emphasis on collective needs rather than self-interest

Profit motive promotes self-interest

Profit motive promotes self-interest

Competition

Not allowed, considered wasteful

Discouraged, considered wasteful

Encouraged to improve price and quality

Encouraged as long as state needs are met

Production decisions

Made by central planning authority

Made by central planning authority; influenced by market forces

Driven by market forces of supply and demand

Driven by market forces of supply and demand

Examples

China, Cuba, North Korea

Norway*, Sweden*, Finland*

Hong Kong, Singapore, United States

Italy (1922-1945), Spain (1939-1975), Argentina (1946-1983)