Why Socialism?

In this short essay, Albert Einstein sets out his case for socialism at a time when the idea was fiercely contested. He argues that the economic anarchy of capitalism, with its booms, slumps and unemployment, is the source of many social problems, and that society should own the means of production and organize them through a planned economy. He also considers how such a system affects education, the individual's place in the community, and the freedom people can expect within it, while acknowledging the difficulties of putting these ideas into practice.