Po co nam społeczna gospodarka rynkowa?
Why Do We Need a Social Market Economy?

Summary/Abstract: The article presents the ordoliberal concept of social market economy (SME) as a model of the socio-economic system alternative to the free-market capitalist economy. The authors believe that, due to the manifold disfunctions of the shortcomings of the contemporary capitalist system, visible worldwide in the economic, social and ecological spheres, this model can be a guide in the search of an optimal socio-economic system. The general SME concept, created in the first half of the XX century, needs to be adjusted to the requirements of the contemporary global economy and the current state of technology. But the fundamental assumptions of this model, concerning a harmonious and sustainable socio-economic development directed towards social wellbeing, remain without any doubt valid. The paper includes a discussion of the historical origins of the SME concept, its institutional and social premises, and justification of its current topicality.

• Details
• Contents