Walter Eucken : Foundations of Economics

Walter Eucken was one of the main representatives of the Freiburg School of Law and Economics and German ‘neoliberalism’, also known as Ordoliberalism. This chapter portrays and analyses Eucken’s life and work as well as his Ordoliberal legacy. It begins by taking a closer look at Eucken’s personal background and his work as an economist-philosopher. It then examines at great length his main publications – the Grundlagen der Nationalökonomie (Foundations of Economics) and the Grundsätze der Wirtschaftspolitik (Principles of Economic Policy) – from a history of economic thought and business ethics perspective. The chapter concludes with some remarks on Eucken’s legacy and the implications of his work for today’s global political economy