Final answer:
The horizontal axis on a political compass represents the economic scale, with left-wing ideologies like socialism on one end and right-wing ideologies like conservatism on the other.
Step-by-step explanation:
The horizontal axis on a political compass typically represents the economic scale, ranging from left to right. The left side of the spectrum includes ideologies such as communism and socialism that prioritize economic equality, while the right side includes conservative and libertarian ideologies that favor free market policies and individual economic freedom. The political compass is a two-dimensional representation used to categorize political ideologies beyond the traditional left-right spectrum, taking into account both economic and social dimensions.