What are the means of production why does the ownership of these divide people?

The means of production are the capital and equipment used to produce goods. Some people believe that economies work best when private entities own the means of production; others believe they work best when the public or the state owns them; yet others argue that they should be owned collectively by those who operate them.

Ownership of the means of production is a point of controversy because different ownership structures have implications for the distribution of the economic output produced by capital equipment and land. Whoever owns the means of production receives the passive property income and rental income generated by their operation.