Die Schmalenbachkontroverse während der Weltwirtschaftskrise. Ein Fallbeispiel für die ökonomische Wissensrezeption

Abstract

Abstract In 1928, the economist Eugen Schmalenbach gave a speech in which he argued that the problem of rising fixed costs would (in the long run) transform the economy into a state-controlled cartel. This lecture brought about a broad discussion in science and public. Especially liberal economists challenged Schmalenbach’s hypothesis, whilst others agreed with him that Germany was on the way to some kind of a bounded economy. The article traces this discussion and wants to show, how pure economical and philosophical arguments were mixed up with each other. In the end, Schmalenbach’s rationale ended up as a small part of an overall debate on the future of German capitalism. The latter was mainly initiated by Werner Sombart and should shape the economical discussions during the slump.