The document discusses the rise of new economic and political ideas in response to capitalism and laissez-faire economics in the 18th-19th centuries. It describes laissez-faire economics and how Adam Smith's ideas influenced capitalism. As populations and inequality grew, socialists advocated public ownership and greater protections for workers. Utilitarianism aimed to maximize welfare, while Marx argued capitalism divided society into the bourgeoisie and proletariat, and would be overthrown by communism as inequality increased further. Communism entailed complete public ownership with no private property and equal sharing of goods.