This paper aims to contribute to the theoretical discussion of Social Market Economy concept and his compatibility with the main premises of neoclassical economic goal of optimal economic efficiency. We will shortly discuss the historical and social context of Ordoliberalism and Freiburg school; subsequently apply the concepts of institutional economy and concepts of economic theory of democracy. The compatibility of normative institutional order and requirements of contemporary economic policy will be discussed in connection with topics as a social order and policy, social capital, economic policy decision making and state-market relations in modern democratic society.
The economy of Czechoslovakia (CS) was traditionally strongly specialized in production and export of light consumer goods. Nevertheless, heavy industry was promoted by strongly protectionist trade policies in 1920s. As our empirical study shows, the CS automobile industry never become internationally competitive and heavy protectionist measures were a necessary condition for its existence. However, behind the protective wall the industry was able to develop production capacities, substitute imports of components, and even export to some extent to less demanding markets in Europe. The paper is therefore a contribution to the economic history research of development of such “strategic” industry in clear contradiction with comparative advantage and implications of economic theory. It is another example of rejection of international division of labour which contributed (in long-term) to fundamental restructuring of national industrial structure.
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