The key difference between socialist and communist economic systems lies primarily in B) the amount of government ownership.
In a socialist system, the government may own and control significant sectors of the economy, but there can also be a degree of private ownership and market elements. Socialism generally allows for some level of democratic governance and the coexistence of various forms of economic ownership.
In contrast, communism advocates for the complete elimination of private ownership of the means of production, where everything is owned collectively, and the government typically has total control over economic resources. In theory, communism seeks to create a classless society where all property is publicly owned.
Therefore, while both systems involve some degree of government control and aim for the redistribution of wealth, communism promotes more extensive government ownership than socialism.