Ordo-Liberalism
"Economically ignorant moralism is as objectionable as morally callous economism. Ethics and economics are two equally difficult subjects, and while the former needs discerning and expert reason, the latter cannot do without humane values."
Ordo-Liberalism, clipped to Ordolib, is an economically center-right, statist, and culturally variable (but never beyond center-right) ideology which is the son of Liberalism and
Social Capitalism. It can be defined as in-between the more laissez-faire approach of
Classical Liberalism and the slightly more paternalistic approach of
Modern Liberalism.
Beliefs
Ordoliberalism is a center to
center-right economic ideology. Similar to modern
Neoliberalism, it believes the state ought to intervene in the economy to ensure the theoretical potential of the free market. It incorporates a
market economy with moderate
government intervention to prevent monopolies and ensure fair competition. In a similar vein to
Third-Wayers and
Compassionate Conservatives, ordoliberals believe in
fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets to avoid excessive government debt, alongside
social policies that provide a
basic safety net to protect citizens from extreme poverty. Ordoliberalism advocates for a
"social market economy" that blends free-market principles with
social justice, ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are broadly shared within society.
History
Foundation
Ordoliberalism arose in 1930's Germany as a rejection of
laissez-faire economics,
excessive interventionism and most of all,
central planning, which
Walter Eucken, who was additionally a very early critic of the Nazi regime, fiercely criticized. It served as a foundation of much of the post-war German economic system and is usually credited with the post-war economic miracle. It believes that the role in the economy of the state is to assure that free markets give the theoretical results they are supposed to give; that the role of the state is to make sure markets are not monopolized or cartelized since that's what is in the way of markets stagnating.
Ordoliberals promoted the concept of the social market economy, and this concept promotes a strong role for the state with respect to the market, which is in many ways different from the ideas of Neoliberalism. Oddly the term "Neoliberalism" was first coined in 1938 by
Alexander Rüstow, who is regarded an Ordoliberal today. This is because at the start of the 20th century any kind of political Liberalism was seen badly, so when ordo-liberalism became popular it was regarded as "Neoliberalism" or "New Liberalism."
Although Ordo-Liberalism originated in Germany, the ideology is not exclusive to that country, as the founders emphasized the need to address a state's cultural, social, and political circumstances. Most present-day
Christian Democratic parties are economically ordo-liberal. The
Rockefeller Republicans in the
United States were almost identical to the OrLibs in policy.
Relationship with Hayek
According to some economists, Friedrich August von Hayek played a fundamental role in the development of ordoliberalism, whereas some claim that he was an integral part of the movement itself. This claim could be made in respect to the close relationship between Hayek and the Freiburg School as well as both of their support for competition and free markets, along with the existence of basic government-provided services.
However, there also existed a large fraction of economists who saw a greater rift between "neoliberals" (nowadays called ordoliberals) and classical liberals (or "paleoliberals") such as Hayek, seeing the latter's views as antiquated. Some economists even saw his views as antagonistic towards true ordoliberalism. Hayek however viewed himself as the true successor and legacy to Eucken and his works respectively, though later on he would re-associate with the classical liberals instead. Nonetheless, a large portion of analysts saw Hayek as part of the Austrian School of Economics from the very beginning, ultimately perceiving his goals as too laissez-faire and minarchistic.
Personality and Behaviour
Ordoliberalism will usually be portrayed as a German and a bureaucrat. He likes order and likes to stop any "weird shenanigans".
How to Draw
Ordolib's design is usually shown as Lib's design with the globe replaced with a police badge.
- Draw a ball
- Fill it blue
- In gold draw a shield with a flat surfaces in top-right and top-left corners and a spike at the top of the shield
- Within a shield draw in the shade of blue a circle
- Within the circle, draw a star
- Add the eyes, and you're done!
An alternate design exists where instead of the police badge, there's a Bundesadler.
Color Name | HEX | RGB | |
---|---|---|---|
Blue | #006AA7 | rgb(0, 106, 167) | |
Gold | #FFE680 | rgb(255, 230, 128) |
Relationships
Friends
Liberalism - My based dad.
Social Capitalism - My other based dad, where I got my economic model.
Classical Liberalism - You could be a little less laissez-faire obsessed, but you're still my beloved grandpa.
Social Liberalism - My more progressive cousin. We largely share the same ideals, though.
Conservative Liberalism - My more conservative cousin. He's also great.
One-Nation Conservatism - My conservative, British variant. He's pretty cool too
Hayekism - He likes me but he always calls my other friends commies. :(
Third Way - I like your style.
Liberaltarianism - Similar to the guy above but more libertarian.
Fiscal Conservatism - Fiscal responsibility is a must for any good government.
CDUism - My favorite student.
Neoliberalism - We almost have the same name, as if You have stolen mine and change the prefix. Other than that, we're pretty chill.
Gremialismo - Aside from being a simp for Pinochet you're pretty good.
Helvetic Model - Switzerland is quite cool.
Frenemies
Libertarianism - Pretty ok economics, but I wish you weren't such a huge laissez-faire freak and realized that intervention is good for the free market.
Austrian School - Same as the guy above only a lot more extreme. Also central banks are necessary.
AfDism - I appreciate that you like my economics and everything, but cut it out with the laisses-fairesation and xenophobia, k?
National Liberalism - Moderate version of above.
Social Democracy - The most tolerable leftist.
Social Corporatism - Same as above, plus we work together sometimes.
Regulationism - We need a bit of you in order to make the market function properly, but sometimes you go too far.
Welfarism - Just don't spend so much please.
Francoism - I gave him some economic advice. That's about it.
Enemies
Ordosocialism - Ordo... what?! You stole my name!
Nazism - You ruined Germany!
Marxism–Leninism - Haha, KPD go byebye. Stay in
East Germany where you belong!
Classical Social Democracy - Are you not just
Soviet communism again?
Honeckerism - Rest in piss bozo #packwatch
Anarcho-Nihilism - "Negate order"? Wtf.
Further Information
Literature
- Ordoliberalism, Law and the Rule of Economics (Preview)
- German Neo-liberals and the Social Market Economy (Preview)
- The Foundation of economics by
Walter Eucken
- Freiburg Theses
Wikipedia
- Ordoliberalism
- ORDO
- Freiburg School
- Freiburg Circles
- Social Market Economy
- Wirtschaftswunder
- Walter Eucken
- Alfred Müller-Armack
- Alexander Rüstow
- Wilhelm Röpke
- Hans-Werner Sinn
- Franz Böhm
Articles
Videos
Gallery
- ↑ Röpke is also known for his pro-apartheid views on South Africa. In 1964, he published South Africa: An Attempt at a Positive Appraisal, which argued that apartheid was justified because the ‘South African Negro’ was not only of ‘an utterly different race’ but ‘a completely different type and level of civilisation’.