In a primitive community producing with little capital, the material conditions of life are likely to be hard for the generality of the people. But under these conditions the need of improvement in the processes of production is likely to attract more attention than the need of a fairer distribution of the goods produced. Under such circumstances it is evident to all that the goods must be produced before they can be used to satisfy the wants of the people. But as technical knowledge advances and as capitalistic methods and the division of labor contribute enormously to the industrial output, the center of interest shifts from production to distribution. If some men are rich while others are poor, if some find the problem of earning a living a distressing one while others live in the lap of luxury, the question of the fairness of distribution is certain to come up for consideration. Two groups of reformers who have done much to keep public attention focused upon the unfairness of the distribution of wealth are the single taxers and the socialists. Their constructive proposals for a better distribution of wealth will be considered in this chapter.