Marx's view of class structure suggests it is primarily based on:

Marx's view of class structure fundamentally centers on the concept of ownership of resources, particularly the means of production. According to Marx, society is divided into classes primarily based on their relationship to these resources. The bourgeoisie, or capitalists, own the means of production, while the proletariat, or working class, do not and must sell their labor to the owners in order to survive. This ownership creates a significant power dynamic that influences social relations, economic systems, and even political structures.

Marx argued that this capitalistic mode of production leads to class conflict, as the interests of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat are often opposed. Thus, understanding class structure through the lens of resource ownership helps to elucidate broader themes of exploitation, inequality, and social change within capitalist societies. This perspective is crucial in analyzing economic systems and the impacts they have on class dynamics in various contexts. Other choices like race and gender, achievement and merit, or inheritance and tradition, while relevant in discussions of social stratification, do not encapsulate Marx's primary focus on the economic basis of class relations.