A European social model of state-market relations: the ethics of competition from a "neo-liberal" perspective

Abstract

"'Neoliberalismus' wird hier in seiner ursprünglichen Bedeutung als Konzept vorgestellt, das dem Staat wichtige ordnungspolitische Aufgaben zuweist, vor allem: Abschaffung von Privilegien, Bekämpfung wirtschaftlicher Macht und deshalb: Schutz des Wettbewerbs. Die Frage, welche ethischen Kategorien mit Wettbewerb in Verbindung gebracht werden können, wird ebenso untersucht wie die Frage, ob ein historisch korrekt verstandener Neoliberalismus als 'Europäisches Sozialmodell' taugt." (Autorenreferat)

"In this paper the author portrays 'neo-liberalism' in its original conceptual meaning as opposed to the generic term of depreciation as which it is commonly used. the author identifies fair competition and the denial of all privilege as the major concerns of original neo-liberals. Ethical merit for competition might, at first sight, be based on only two principles: individual natural rights (equal liberty) and socially desirable outcomes ('unintended altruism'). It was the neo-liberal idea to put fairness-norms or universally applicable rules of just behaviour between an unqualified 'input-based' ethics and an unqualified 'output-based' ethical consequentialism. The enforcement of such rules is a major obligation of the state. Today, the European Union assumes the role of 'guardian' of competition. In a certain, but limited sense, neo-liberalism, correctly understood, can be argued to be the one founding 'European Social Model'. However, beyond the realm of core of common, universalisable interests, competition amongst social-political models seems a preferable option for Europe." (author's abstract)