Distributism

Distributismus is an economic philosophy that was represented by Catholic thinkers as GK Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc. According to the Distributismus the ownership of means of production should be as far as possible, distributed in the population, rather than in the central property of the state ( socialism) or a small number of individuals ( capitalism ). Under this system, most people would be able to earn a living without being dependent on the use of another's property.

The distributistischen ideas go back to papal teachings of the 19th and 20th centuries, beginning with the Encyclical Rerum Novarum of Pope Leo XIII. A good summary is Chesterton's remark: "The problem with capitalism is that there are not enough capitalists. " Belloc and Chesterton founded most of their recommendations with discussions medieval economic activity before the development of capitalist philosophy, as first described by Jean Quidort in the theory of Homo economicus in De potestate regia et papali was presented.

In the U.S. America of the 1930s Distributismus was discussed at the American Review on the basis of many essays by Chesterton, Belloc and others.

• Capitalism
• Economics
• Political Philosophy
• Gilbert Keith Chesterton