Gesellschaftliche Verantwortung von Unternehmen in der Sozialen Marktwirtschaft

Abstract

For centuries, the concept of social market economy (“Soziale Marktwirtschaft”) was considered as the guideline in the German economic policy. Especially since the latest financial and market crisis, this concept and its aspiration of combining both social and economic progress is experiencing a type of renaissance. This chapter focuses on the question if the concept of social market economy offers guidelines on what role companies play or should play in society. Firstly, a short introduction will portray the historical and theoretical background of the social market economy which will be followed by a critical analysis of the social role of companies within this economic system. Lastly, a set of possible perspectives on the responsibility of companies in a modern version of the social market economy will be introduced.