Research on the origin and development of ordoliberalism History of Economic Thought

The history of ordoliberalism begins with the Freiburg School, a research and teaching collaboration of economists and lawyers at the University of Freiburg in the 1930s and 1940s.

The Walter Eucken Institute aims to investigate the emergence, further development and current significance of ordoliberal thinking. An important research focus is the influence of ordoliberalism on the concept of the Social Market Economy and its relevance for today’s economic and social policy reforms.

Additionally, the institute, in cooperation with recognized historians of ideas, wants to continue to promote research on the individual members of the Freiburg School.

History of Economic Thought Projects

  • The Collected Works of Walter Eucken

    This book series brings together the most important writings and works of Walter Eucken (1891–1950). In addition to his monographs and essays, the letters, diaries and unpublished manuscripts from the estate are edited for the first time. All texts are printed according to the last authorized version (where available). Each volume notes the version of the text on which it is based, as well as any previous versions, and their editing and translation history. They also each contain a detailed introduction by the volume editors, and person and subject indices.

    Edited by UWE DATHE, LARS P. FELD, ANDREAS FREYTAG, NILS GOLDSCHMIDT, DANIEL NIENTIEDT and WALTER OSWALT †


  • Pioneers of Liberal Modernity

    This book series sets out to collect the most influential arguments in favor of the political philosophy of liberalism that were advanced during the 20th and early 21st centuries.

    Sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.

    More information coming soon.

    Our partner institutions: University of Freiburg, Aktionsgemeinschaft Soziale Marktwirtschaft, Brandenburg University of Technology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Ludwig Erhard Foundation, Center for Liberal Modernity, Walter Eucken Institut, and Center for Economic Education in Siegen


Current Publications

  • to be published The Renaissance of Ordoliberalism in the 1970s and 1980s

    to be published in: Constitutional Political Economy (TIM KRIEGER and DANIEL NIENTIEDT).

  • March 2025 Hayek and Schmitt on the “Depoliticization” of the Economy

    Cambridge Journal of Economics 49 (2), 2025, pp. 221-233 (DANIEL NIENTIEDT).

    academic.oup
  • December 2023 Freiheit, Staat und Sozialismus

    Walter Eucken, Gesammelte Schriften, Band II/3, edited by VIKTOR J. VANBERG, DANIEL NIENTIEDT und UWE DATHE

    https://www.eucken.de/publikation/freiheit-staat-und-sozialismus/
  • 2023 The Freiburg School and the Virginia School: The Research Programs of Ordnungsökonomik and Constitutional Political Economy

    Special Issue in Public Choice, 195 (3-4), 2023 (LARS P. FELD and DANIEL NIENTIEDT).

  • 2023 Menger’s Account of the Origin of Money as a Case Study in the Evolution of Institutions

    Review of Austrian Economics 36 (2), 2023, S. 205–215 (DANIEL NIENTIEDT).

  • 2023 Briefe 1907 – 1932

    Walter Eucken, Gesammelte Schriften, Band III/1, Herausgegeben von Uwe Dathe und Walter Oswalt

    https://www.eucken.de/publikation/briefe-1907-1932/
  • 2022 Hayekian Economic Policy

    Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization 204, 2022, pp. 457 – 465 (LARS P. FELD and DANIEL NIENTIEDT). Revised version of: Freiburg Discussion Papers on Constitutional Economics No. 22/01, Walter Eucken Institut, Freiburg i.Br., January 2022.

    sciencedirect.com
  • 2022 German Ordoliberalism and Value Freedom: The Case of Walter Eucken

    History of Political Economy 54 (4), 2022, pp. 785-799 (DANIEL NIENTIEDT).

    dukeupress.edu