The interplay of incentives and ideas : an intellectual journey from order economics through order ethics to ordonomics

This article introduces the ordonomic research program and explains its methodological roots. It shows how a German-speaking line of tradition has developed from Order Economics (Ordnungsökonomik) through Order Ethics (Ordnungsethik) to Ordonomics (Ordonomik). Ordonomics integrates central ideas of its predecessors into a theory of societal learning processes, which regards institutions and ideas as key variables. Using a three-level model, the connections between rule-following, rule-setting, and rule-finding are analyzed. The aim is a functional utilization of systemic constraints for the realization of moral desiderata. Ten Case studies and three appendices demonstrate practical applications of the ordonomic approach to institutional and ideational ethics.