A landmark work in European social thought, this reference provides a unique alternative to how property distribution is planned by socialist states and how it naturally occurs in capitalist societies. The study attempts to rectify the wrongs in both major economic theories by approaching the problem from an entirely new angle, drawing on Christian and Catholic social thought in which basic truths regarding society and human nature are applied to socioeconomics. Marking a key point in the history of economic theory, this fundamental guide clearly illustrates the influence of religion and philosophy on social thought as well as their practical application to societal questions.