The means of production, a core concept in Marxist theory, refers to the resources, tools, technologies, land, factories, and other infrastructure whereby the production of material goods is carried on in a society. This concept encompasses not just the physical technology involved in production but also the social relations between the producers (e.g., the relationship between the owners of the means of production and the workers who use them). According to Marx, the ownership and control of the means of production are central to understanding the structure of society and the distribution of power and wealth. In capitalist societies, the bourgeoisie (capitalist class) owns and controls the means of production, while the proletariat (working class) must sell their labor power to the bourgeoisie to survive, leading to inherent inequalities and class conflict.