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The German anti-Keynes? On Walter Eucken's macroeconomics

Author

Listed:
  • Feld, Lars P.
  • Köhler, Ekkehard A.
  • Nientiedt, Daniel

Abstract

Germany's approach to solving the Eurozone crisis is supposedly based on the ideas of Walter Eucken (1891-1950), the founder of ordoliberalism. In this and other contexts, Eucken's work has been described as being in direct opposition to that of John Maynard Keynes. Our paper aims to clarify and differentiate the relationship between the two scholars by making two main points. First, we show that Eucken supported a proto-Keynesian stimulus programme at the height of the Great Depression, the so-called Lautenbach plan of 1931. Second, we critically examine Eucken's description of 'full employment policy', a strategy with obvious parallels to Keynesian economic policy. Additionally, the paper maintains that when comparing Eucken and Keynes, more emphasis should be given to the fact that the former favours a rule-based rather than discretionary approach to policy-making.

Suggested Citation

  • Feld, Lars P. & Köhler, Ekkehard A. & Nientiedt, Daniel, 2018. "The German anti-Keynes? On Walter Eucken's macroeconomics," Freiburg Discussion Papers on Constitutional Economics 18/11, Walter Eucken Institut e.V..
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:aluord:1811
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    Cited by:

    1. Francesco Denozza, 2019. "Spettri del mitico ordo: diritto e mercato nel neoliberalismo (Ghosts of mytical ordo: Law and markets in neoliberalism)," Moneta e Credito, Economia civile, vol. 72(288), pages 327-348.
    2. Feld, Lars P. & Köhler, Ekkehard A. & Nientiedt, Daniel, 2021. "Ordoliberalism and the social market economy," Freiburg Discussion Papers on Constitutional Economics 21/5, Walter Eucken Institut e.V..

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    JEL classification:

    • B31 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - Individuals
    • D78 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation
    • E63 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Comparative or Joint Analysis of Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Stabilization; Treasury Policy

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