WOLNA GOSPODARKA I SILNE PAŃSTWO: CO ZAWIODŁO?1
FREE ECONOMY AND A STRONG STATE: WHAT FAILED?

Summary/Abstract: Purpose – The article elaborates on an ordoliberal idea that contradiction between market and the state constitutes a false direction of thinking, and tries to show why it is so, in particular, when combating economic crisis is at stake. Research method – This is a review of literature authored by leaders of the ordoliberal stream of thought. Contents have been organized around the fundamental ordoliberal premise that free economy and strong state are intertwined and dependent on each other. Results – Reconstruction of an ordoliberal position is helpful since it creates an interesting perspective on the international economic and financial crisis of 2008–2009. It reveals that after the crisis private economic power has not been constrained, which constitutes an obstacle to free economy, while the state has not become capable of withstanding rival social groups which means it is continuously weak. Originality/value/implications/recommendations – The considerations presented overcome “market-state” dichotomy which was constituted as common wisdom thanks to mainstream economics. This is a unique attitude which is rather absent in Poland despite ordoliberal economics being reflected in economic policies as a theory of social market economy, with SME being referred to in Polish constitution.

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