Post-war Keynesianism in Germany and Western Europe

This edited volume discusses the reception and application of Keynesian economics in Europe during the 20th century. The main focus of the book is the case of West Germany, where the strong position of Keynesian economics (primarily of the neoclassical synthesis type) at most universities since the 1950s contrasted with Ordoliberalism and the concept of the Social Market Economy, which became dominant German economic policy after the war. Chapter contributions focus on important pioneers of theoretical or political Keynesianism, such as Erich Schneider, Andreas Paulsen, and Karl Schiller in Germany, Kurt Rothschild in Austria, Gottfried Bombach in Switzerland; the influence of Keynes on other economists; and the relevance of Keynesian ideas in Austria and Norway.

Providing a survey of important theoretical economists in post-war Germany, this volume will be of interest to researchers and students of economic policy, contemporary political, social and economic systems, history of economic thought and political history.

Jürgen G. Backhaus is emeritus Professor of Public Finance and Fiscal Sociology at Erfurt University, Germany. He is the founding editor of the book series European Heritage in Economics and the Social Sciences as well as the European Journal of Law and Economics.

Günther Chaloupek is former director of the economic research department of the Austrian Chamber of Labour. He has a Dr. jur from University of Vienna (Austria) and MA in economics from University of Kansas (US). He is co-editor of European Heritage in Economics and the Social Sciences.

Hans A. Frambach is Professor of Microeconomics and the History of Economic Thought at the Schumpeter School of Business and Economics, University of Wuppertal, Germany. He is co-editor of European Heritage in Economics and the Social Sciences.