Socialism is a mode of production based on collective ownership of the means of production. This means that the resources and tools used to produce goods and services are owned and controlled by the community as a whole, rather than by private individuals or corporations. In a socialist system, the benefits of production are distributed more evenly among the population, rather than being concentrated in the hands of a wealthy few. This is achieved through democratic decision-making processes and the redistribution of wealth to support public goods and services.