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Ordoliberalism
The Referee
«Markets only work with clear rules.»
The German school of the social market economy: free competition protected by strong rules, antitrust, sound money and balanced books.
In short
On the traditional scale, this ideology sits in the center-right camp. The clearest positions are on method: strongly towards “reform”; democracy: strongly towards “technocracy”; economy: fairly towards “market”; sovereignty: fairly towards “integration”. On environment, foreign policy and immigration it stays balanced. Among the other ideologies, the closest is neoliberalism (92%).
Principles
- Competition protected by the state
- Monetary stability
- Social market economy
A competitive market protected by a referee state that bans monopolies and keeps public finances in order.
Common criticisms
Where it comes from
It was born in Freiburg in the 1930s (Walter Eucken, Wilhelm Röpke) and inspired Ludwig Erhard's "social market economy."
Key figures: Konrad Adenauer, Friedrich Merz, Luigi Einaudi
Further reading: Wohlstand für Alle — Ludwig Erhard; Grundsätze der Wirtschaftspolitik — Walter Eucken
Position on the 13 axes
Similar ideologies
NeoliberalismThe Globalizer92%Liberal conservatismThe Notary92%Third WayThe Modernizer88%Closest parties in Europe
Partido Social DemocrataPortugal96%
HorizonsFrance95%
Forza ItaliaItaly95%
Christen-Democratisch AppelNetherlands93%Closest figures
Positions are estimates based on documented ideas, platforms and actions, updated to October 2026.