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Wohlstand für Alle
Der Titel des Buches Wohlstand für Alle ist zu einem verbreiteten Slogan geworden. Von Sahra Wagenknecht bis Friedrich Merz berufen sich noch heute viele unterschiedliche Politiker auf Ludwig Erhards Konzept der Sozialen Marktwirtschaft. In der Tat sind seine beiden Kernideen bis heute aktuell und gü Die freie Wirtschaft muss vor staatlichen Eingriffen sowie vor Kartellen und Monopolen geschützt werden, und die überkommene Situation einer dünnen Oberschicht, die einer breiten Unterschicht gegenübersteht, muss durch Wettbewerb überwunden werden. Ludwig Erhard ging es vor allem um den Zweiklang und das Wechselspiel von Freiheit und Verantwortung des Freiheit gilt es zu schützen, Verantwortung gilt es zu übernehmen.
Für jeden wirtschaftlich und politisch Interessierten, der die Formulierungen „Wohlstand für Alle“, „soziale Marktwirtschaft“ und „Soziale Gerechtigkeit“ benutzen möchte, ist die vorherige Lektüre der ursprünglichen Quelle eingehend zu empfehlen.
Für jeden wirtschaftlich und politisch Interessierten, der die Formulierungen „Wohlstand für Alle“, „soziale Marktwirtschaft“ und „Soziale Gerechtigkeit“ benutzen möchte, ist die vorherige Lektüre der ursprünglichen Quelle eingehend zu empfehlen.
387 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1957
About the author
Ludwig Erhard
22 books7 followersLudwig Wilhelm Erhard (CDU) was a former Chancellor of West Germany from 1963 until 1966. He is notable for his leading role in German postwar economic reform and economic recovery, particularly in his role as Minister of Economics under Chancellor Konrad Adenauer after 1949.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 5, 2021
A consolidação da economia alemã, no pós-guerra, resultou da aplicação de uma política bem liberal, conhecida entre nós como "economia social de mercado" ou, mais correctamente, de "economia-de-mercado social".
Neste livro, Ludwig Erhard, ministro das finanças, vice-chanceler e chanceler da Alemanha Federal, entre 1949 e 1966, conta as suas lutas políticas: pela liberdade económica (em detrimento do estatismo); pelo foco no consumidor (por oposição à industria nacional); pela luta constante contra os abusos de mercado, públicos e privados. Defende ainda as vantagens de ter um Estado Previdência limitado pelas exigências do crescimento económico - reforma que não conseguiu verdadeiramente implementar.
Não se trata de um livro apologético ou doutrinário do liberalismo. É, acima de tudo, um livro prático e de memórias de quem preparou e implementou o renascimento da maior economia europeia.
A principal conclusão é bastante simples: a prosperidade é para todos – isto é, numa economia verdadeiramente livre ninguém fica para trás.
Neste livro, Ludwig Erhard, ministro das finanças, vice-chanceler e chanceler da Alemanha Federal, entre 1949 e 1966, conta as suas lutas políticas: pela liberdade económica (em detrimento do estatismo); pelo foco no consumidor (por oposição à industria nacional); pela luta constante contra os abusos de mercado, públicos e privados. Defende ainda as vantagens de ter um Estado Previdência limitado pelas exigências do crescimento económico - reforma que não conseguiu verdadeiramente implementar.
Não se trata de um livro apologético ou doutrinário do liberalismo. É, acima de tudo, um livro prático e de memórias de quem preparou e implementou o renascimento da maior economia europeia.
A principal conclusão é bastante simples: a prosperidade é para todos – isto é, numa economia verdadeiramente livre ninguém fica para trás.
January 2, 2025
Warum dieses Buch lesen? Es bietet einen tiefen Einblick in die Wirtschafts- und Sozialgeschichte Deutschlands. Ludwig Erhard, einer der bedeutendsten und mutigsten Politiker, schildert die Nachkriegszeit und seine Vision für die deutsche Wirtschaft. Erhard prägte mit anderen das Fundament des Wirtschaftswunders. Wohlstand für Alle kann als Rechenschaftsbericht verstanden werden, aber auch als Dokument seiner freiheitlichen Prinzipien, die insbesondere in seinem wirtschaftspolitischen Handeln Ausdruck gefunden haben.
Zum Beispiel die Wichtigkeit freier Preise. Kapitel 6 behandelt, wie Erhard die Rolle des Wirtschaftsministers sieht und thematisiert das Problem starker Gruppeninteressen. Kapitel 7 erklärt, warum Kartelle schädlich sind. An dieser Stelle stellt sich die Frage, was Erhard zur Plattformökonomie gesagt hätte. Auch Kapitel 9 über Lohnentwicklung und deren gesamtwirtschaftliche Konsequenzen sind von heutiger Relevanz. Kapitel 11 greift die Verhaltensökonomie vorweg, und Kapitel 12 widmet sich der sozialen Sicherung. Besonders heute ist es von Bedeutung, dass Erhard gegen die Vollkaskomentalität argumentiert und für Eigenverantwortung plädiert. Er bringt eine ökonomische Denkweise ein, die zeigt, dass die staatliche soziale Sicherung durch Faktoren wie Produktivität und Lohnentwicklung an ihre Grenzen stößt. Das 14. Kapitel über Europa bleibt in seinen Grundsätzen relevant. Erhard diskutiert die Probleme der sozialen Harmonisierung und plädiert allgemein für eine funktionale wirtschaftliche Integration durch Wettbewerb. Diese Sichtweise ist besonders relevant im Kontext der EU-Kapitalmarktunion, die aktuell versucht, eine funktionale Integration im Finanzwesen zu schaffen.
Zum Beispiel die Wichtigkeit freier Preise. Kapitel 6 behandelt, wie Erhard die Rolle des Wirtschaftsministers sieht und thematisiert das Problem starker Gruppeninteressen. Kapitel 7 erklärt, warum Kartelle schädlich sind. An dieser Stelle stellt sich die Frage, was Erhard zur Plattformökonomie gesagt hätte. Auch Kapitel 9 über Lohnentwicklung und deren gesamtwirtschaftliche Konsequenzen sind von heutiger Relevanz. Kapitel 11 greift die Verhaltensökonomie vorweg, und Kapitel 12 widmet sich der sozialen Sicherung. Besonders heute ist es von Bedeutung, dass Erhard gegen die Vollkaskomentalität argumentiert und für Eigenverantwortung plädiert. Er bringt eine ökonomische Denkweise ein, die zeigt, dass die staatliche soziale Sicherung durch Faktoren wie Produktivität und Lohnentwicklung an ihre Grenzen stößt. Das 14. Kapitel über Europa bleibt in seinen Grundsätzen relevant. Erhard diskutiert die Probleme der sozialen Harmonisierung und plädiert allgemein für eine funktionale wirtschaftliche Integration durch Wettbewerb. Diese Sichtweise ist besonders relevant im Kontext der EU-Kapitalmarktunion, die aktuell versucht, eine funktionale Integration im Finanzwesen zu schaffen.
May 18, 2021
A tour de force!
Having read the book a second time changed things a little. The first time I read it I gave it a five-star rating, because I was amazed by Erhard's genius, and I still am. The biggest flaw that I noticed, and the reason why I give this book a four-star rating now, is the ending, which was a little disappointing.
Nevertheless, I still regard Ludwig Erhard as a great politician, an intellectual, and a genius. This is the first center-right intellectual (and politician) that I truly have respect for. I will even go so far as to claim that among the intellectual left of the old school, the social-democratic intellectuals that I align myself with, and I have a lot of respect for, there has never been someone I read and who understood how the market economy works at it's best like Erhard.
In some regards, Erhard was right to criticize the SDPG, the social democrats in Germany who were in opposition. His critique was balanced, and even fair, at some points, but sometimes it was completely unjust. He failed to realize that he had so much in common with his opposition, the social democrats. Although social democrats, like myself, believe in a mixed market economy, which is similar on many fronts to a social market economy, the one Erhard was striving for, he wrongly believed that social democrats wanted a Planned Economy, which makes no sense. Social democrats believe in a market economy as well.
Even though I disagree with some of Erhard's views, I will give credit where credit is due. For me, the issues of contention and disagreement are Healthcare, Education, the Welfare State, mandatory Pensions (private or state), etc. Regardless of my disagreements with him, I find Erhard's book the work of a genius, of someone who truly understood how the economy works best and how it should be managed in order to provide and service for everyone in the economy, not only the rich.
During the read, I have listened to a whole range of rock/metal songs, and the one that stuck to mind and made the reading an amazing experience, every time I listened to it, is Half Awake by Concrete Castles (First to Eleven). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZgPI...
All in all, this is a great book. It dismantles the laissez-faire fantasy and provides a center-right vision of an economy I am truly in favor of, even though I may disagree with different aspects of it.
Having read the book a second time changed things a little. The first time I read it I gave it a five-star rating, because I was amazed by Erhard's genius, and I still am. The biggest flaw that I noticed, and the reason why I give this book a four-star rating now, is the ending, which was a little disappointing.
Nevertheless, I still regard Ludwig Erhard as a great politician, an intellectual, and a genius. This is the first center-right intellectual (and politician) that I truly have respect for. I will even go so far as to claim that among the intellectual left of the old school, the social-democratic intellectuals that I align myself with, and I have a lot of respect for, there has never been someone I read and who understood how the market economy works at it's best like Erhard.
In some regards, Erhard was right to criticize the SDPG, the social democrats in Germany who were in opposition. His critique was balanced, and even fair, at some points, but sometimes it was completely unjust. He failed to realize that he had so much in common with his opposition, the social democrats. Although social democrats, like myself, believe in a mixed market economy, which is similar on many fronts to a social market economy, the one Erhard was striving for, he wrongly believed that social democrats wanted a Planned Economy, which makes no sense. Social democrats believe in a market economy as well.
Even though I disagree with some of Erhard's views, I will give credit where credit is due. For me, the issues of contention and disagreement are Healthcare, Education, the Welfare State, mandatory Pensions (private or state), etc. Regardless of my disagreements with him, I find Erhard's book the work of a genius, of someone who truly understood how the economy works best and how it should be managed in order to provide and service for everyone in the economy, not only the rich.
During the read, I have listened to a whole range of rock/metal songs, and the one that stuck to mind and made the reading an amazing experience, every time I listened to it, is Half Awake by Concrete Castles (First to Eleven). Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZgPI...
All in all, this is a great book. It dismantles the laissez-faire fantasy and provides a center-right vision of an economy I am truly in favor of, even though I may disagree with different aspects of it.
May 6, 2021
This is the third greatest book on the subject of political economy that I have read in my life. The first and greatest book that I got a chance to read on the subject of political economy is, and always will be, "The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith, and the second is, and always will be, "Progress and Poverty" by Henry George.
While Ludwig Erhard, the former Chancellor of West Germany from 1963 until 1966, and I would disagree on different public policy measures and whether or not the Welfare State should exist, I have learned invaluable lessons from him. Ludwig Erhard was truly a genius and understood how the economy works best.
Ludwig Erhard believed in the social market economy, a middle way between social democracy and laissez-faire capitalism, and was in opposition to my dearest friends, the SDPG, the Social Democratic Party of Germany. Some of his critiques were fair and just against them, and made me realize some gaps that I had in reference to the way I used to see the private sector of the economy, and how well it can be used to provide wealth to the whole nation.
The point of contention that is most important for me, and where I think he was wrong, came from our different perspectives on the role of the Welfare State. For him, any form of social security meant less freedom for the individual, something that I disagree with completely. While he believed in Economic Justice, being in favor of Trade Unions, and fighting the cartels and monopolies, he seemed to regard Social Justice as being almost irrelevant. In other words, while everyone got to take their fair share according to their productivity in the social market economy, he seemed to be blind to the fact that not anyone could afford Higher Education and Healthcare.
While I am still a social democrat, and although Ludwig Erhard's book pushed me a little more toward the center, I still think that one of Christ's greatest commandments should be the norm when it comes to political, societal, and economic issues. That being: "Do to others what you would want them to do to you." But this shall not be applied in a narrow and wicked way, but in an objective and just way.
Ludwig Erhard is one of the few right-wing intellectuals, although a center-right one, I truly have respect for. His book is the work of a genius, an intellectual, and a politician who truly understood the rules of the game and how the economy should be managed in order to service and provide for everyone in society, poor or rich. The application of his principles made Germany a powerhouse, and it will continue to be for decades to come.
All in all, this is a great book. It dismantles the laissez-faire fantasy and provides a center-right vision of an economy that I truly am in favor of, even though I may disagree with different aspects of it.
While Ludwig Erhard, the former Chancellor of West Germany from 1963 until 1966, and I would disagree on different public policy measures and whether or not the Welfare State should exist, I have learned invaluable lessons from him. Ludwig Erhard was truly a genius and understood how the economy works best.
Ludwig Erhard believed in the social market economy, a middle way between social democracy and laissez-faire capitalism, and was in opposition to my dearest friends, the SDPG, the Social Democratic Party of Germany. Some of his critiques were fair and just against them, and made me realize some gaps that I had in reference to the way I used to see the private sector of the economy, and how well it can be used to provide wealth to the whole nation.
The point of contention that is most important for me, and where I think he was wrong, came from our different perspectives on the role of the Welfare State. For him, any form of social security meant less freedom for the individual, something that I disagree with completely. While he believed in Economic Justice, being in favor of Trade Unions, and fighting the cartels and monopolies, he seemed to regard Social Justice as being almost irrelevant. In other words, while everyone got to take their fair share according to their productivity in the social market economy, he seemed to be blind to the fact that not anyone could afford Higher Education and Healthcare.
While I am still a social democrat, and although Ludwig Erhard's book pushed me a little more toward the center, I still think that one of Christ's greatest commandments should be the norm when it comes to political, societal, and economic issues. That being: "Do to others what you would want them to do to you." But this shall not be applied in a narrow and wicked way, but in an objective and just way.
Ludwig Erhard is one of the few right-wing intellectuals, although a center-right one, I truly have respect for. His book is the work of a genius, an intellectual, and a politician who truly understood the rules of the game and how the economy should be managed in order to service and provide for everyone in society, poor or rich. The application of his principles made Germany a powerhouse, and it will continue to be for decades to come.
All in all, this is a great book. It dismantles the laissez-faire fantasy and provides a center-right vision of an economy that I truly am in favor of, even though I may disagree with different aspects of it.
August 4, 2014
En pocas palabras, el libro es una colección de textos de Ludvig Erhard, el autor de las reformas económicas que dieron origen al milagro alemán despues de la Segunda Guera Mundial: "un cambio abrupto de una economía planificada con intervenciones estatales ilimitadas a una economía de mercado y libre empresa". Eso es lo que hace fascinante al libro, la expresión del autor de tales reformas.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews