Può esistere un mercato «sociale»?

Does the Ordo-liberal Concept of "Marktkonform" Hold Up to Critical Examination?

Abstract disponibile solo in lingua inglese

After the demise of the fundamentalist form of socialism, constructivists have proposed "market socialism". This concept turns out to be self-contradictory. Social policy in Europe is based on the idea of "Social Market" – 'SM' for short. The idea is a cluster of descriptive and normative assumptions. The core of the most sophisticated of the various versions of 'SM' is the concept of state intervention in line with the market – "Marktkonform". The thesis that there is a method of redistribution that is in harmony with the market is not falsifiable in the Popperian sense, but verifiable. Hence some examples are examined that have been used to support the claim that the class of "Marktkonform" measures is not an empty one. The cases do not stand up to the test. It transpires that the problem which 'SM' is supposed to solve is one of value. A prerequisite condition for a rational discussion of any value problem is that the value system referred to has been made explicit and articulated.