Economic determinism

Economic determinism means that the economic system (the way people produce and trade goods and services) shapes what people think and do. That means that the economic system shapes culture, politics, and the behaviors of people and societies.

Think of it this way: Imagine a family that lives on a farm, and they grow their own food and sell any extra food they make in the town market. That family is determined by their economy – they have to do certain things to keep their farm going and make money, like taking care of their animals and planting and harvesting crops, if they want to keep surviving. Even if they wanted to do something else, like build a boat and explore, they don't have the resources or money to do it. So their economic system shapes what they can and cannot do.