Aktionsgemeinschaft Soziale Marktwirtschaft

What Aktionsgemeinschaft Soziale Marktwirtschaft does

Aktionsgemeinschaft Soziale Marktwirtschaft (ASM) is a German non-profit association (eingetragener Verein, Vereinsregister-Nr. VR 381152, Amtsgericht Tübingen) founded on January 23, 1953 by publicist Otto Lautenbach to promote and defend the Social Market Economy concept in post-war Germany. The organization operates as a think tank, educational platform, and policy forum rather than a commercial entity, and is led by Chairman Prof. Dr. Nils Goldschmidt (since 2014) and Managing Director Ute Friederich (since 2015). Its core offerings are programmatic rather than productized: an annual Dialogseminar (33 editions, for selected students from partner universities including Siegen, Erfurt, Witten/Herdecke, Bayreuth, and Tübingen), a Doktorandenseminar zur Erneuerung der Ordnungsökonomik at Universität Erfurt (12 editions), the Wilhelm-Röpke-Vorlesung in Erfurt (20 editions since 2007), the Vorträge zur Sozialen Marktwirtschaft lecture series (since 2017), and the Videowettbewerb for high-school students (since 2022). ASM also publishes the Schriftenreihe Marktwirtschaftliche Reformpolitik, maintains the Alfred Müller-Armack traveling exhibition, and administers two prestige awards: the Alexander-Rüstow-Plakette (since 1964) and the Alfred Müller-Armack Verdienstmedaille.

Revenue is generated exclusively through membership fees, voluntary donations, and project-specific co-funding from German foundations including the Hanns Martin Schleyer-Stiftung, Heinz Nixdorf Stiftung, Schmölders Stiftung, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, and Doris und Dr. Michael Hagemann-Stiftung. ASM serves three primary constituencies: scientists and academics working in ordoliberalism and order economics; policymakers and political decision-makers in German and European economic policy; and the broader public, particularly students reached through the Videowettbewerb and the traveling exhibition. Technology infrastructure is minimal — a standard web platform (asm-ev.de) using Google Analytics and Google Web Fonts, a YouTube channel for lecture recordings, and a Facebook page ('wirtschaftdenken') — with no proprietary software, AI/ML capabilities, or API products. The Geschäftsstelle in Tübingen (Corrensstraße 37) employs approximately 5 core staff plus 3 student assistants.

Name

Aktionsgemeinschaft Soziale Marktwirtschaft

Legal name

Aktionsgemeinschaft Soziale Marktwirtschaft e.V.

Website

https://asm-ev.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aktionsgemeinschaft Soziale Marktwirtschaft (ASM) is a Tübingen-based German non-profit association founded in 1953 that promotes the Social Market Economy through academic conferences, public lectures, doctoral seminars, student video competitions, publications, and a traveling exhibition, serving academics, policymakers, students, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Policy Think Tank / Educational Non-Profit Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Periodical Publishers (51312)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Economics, Finance & Funding Policy Research (EDADADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Business, Economics, Accounting & Management (EDAGABAC), Education, Research & Academic Congresses (THAHAJAD), Economics & Finance Competitions (Econ Challenge, Stock Market Games) (EDAMAGAI)

Keywords

• Economic policy research
• Social market economy
• Ordoliberalism education
• Academic conferences
• Non-profit think tank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tübingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees and Donations: ASM operates as a gemeinnützig (non-profit, charitable) registered association (e.V.) organized under German law (Registergericht Tübingen, VR 381152). Primary revenue is derived from membership fees and voluntary donations. Additional revenue is generated through co-funding arrangements with German foundations for specific programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ASM promotes the Social Market Economy (Soziale Marktwirtschaft) through scientific conferences, annual lecture series, doctoral seminars, a high-school video competition, the Schriftenreihe Marktwirtschaftliche Reformpolitik publication series, and a traveling exhibition on Alfred Müller-Armack. The organization also confers two awards — the Alexander-Rüstow-Plakette and the Alfred Müller-Armack Verdienstmedaille — and is modernizing the MACRO economic simulation game for schools. Activities are targeted at academics, policymakers, students, and the general interested public across Germany.

Product overview

Aktionsgemeinschaft Soziale Marktwirtschaft (ASM) is a non-profit association founded in 1953 dedicated to promoting and discussing the Social Market Economy concept in Germany. ASM operates as a platform for academic discourse, public education, and economic policy dialogue rather than as a commercial product company. Its core offerings consist of educational programs and events including the Dialogseminar (annual student dialogue seminar), the Doktorandenseminar (doctoral seminar on ordoliberal economics renewal), Wilhelm-Röpke-Vorlesung (annual lecture series), Vorträge zur Sozialen Marktwirtschaft (annual lectures with awards), and an annual Videowettbewerb (video competition for students). ASM also publishes the Schriftenreihe Marktwirtschaftliche Reformpolitik (publication series), maintains the traveling Alfred Müller-Armack exhibition, and administers two prestigious awards: the Alexander-Rüstow-Plakette and the Alfred Müller-Armack Verdienstmedaille. The organization is also developing a MACRO economic simulation game for schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dialogseminar Annual dialogue seminar series bringing together selected students from partner universities (Siegen, Erfurt, Witten/Herdecke, Bayreuth, Tübingen) with practitioners from politics, administration, industry, and academia to discuss current economic-policy challenges facing the Social Market Economy; running since 1986 (33rd edition in 2026) and co-funded by Hanns Martin Schleyer-Stiftung, Schmölders Stiftung, and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.
• Doktorandenseminar zur Erneuerung der Ordnungsökonomik Annual doctoral seminar dedicated to renewal in ordoliberal economics (Ordnungsökonomik), examining the interdependence of economic and political orders, hosted at Universität Erfurt; running since 2013 (12th edition in 2026) and co-funded by the Doris und Dr. Michael Hagemann-Stiftung.
• Wilhelm-Röpke-Vorlesung Annual lecture series held at the Thüringer Aufbaubank in Erfurt since 2007, featuring prominent scientists and politicians discussing liberal economic policy and the Social Market Economy (20 editions through 2026); hosted within the Wilhelm-Röpke-Forum.
• Vorträge zur Sozialen Marktwirtschaft Annual lecture series initiated in 2017, honoring scientists with lectures on current developments and conceptual questions of the Social Market Economy; featured speakers include Lars P. Feld (2017), Udo di Fabio (2018), Georg Cremer (2019), Asfa-Wossen Asserate (2021), Michael Hüther (2022), Bruno S. Frey (2023), and Carl Christian v. Weizsäcker (2023).
• Videowettbewerb (Video Competition) Annual video competition for German Gymnasium upper-level (gymnasiale Oberstufe) high-school students on current topics related to the Social Market Economy, conducted in cooperation with Ludwig-Erhard-Stiftung, Heinz Nixdorf Stiftung, and ZÖBIS University Siegen; prizes range from €250 to €1,000, with total prizes of €3,150 per year. Topics have included '75 Jahre Soziale Marktwirtschaft' (2022), '75 Jahre Währungsreform und Preisfreigabe' (2023), 'Demokratie und Soziale Marktwirtschaft' (2024), 'Klimaschutz' (2025), and 'Rentenversicherung' (2026).
• Schriftenreihe Marktwirtschaftliche Reformpolitik Publication series of academic works on the Social Market Economy and related economic-policy topics, edited by Joachim Starbatty, Rolf H. Hasse, and Nils Goldschmidt; 19+ volumes published, with notable works including Julian Dörr's European cohesion policy book (Roman Herzog Forschungspreis 2016) and Thomas Köster's volume 19 on unemployment.
• Traveling Exhibition 'Alfred Müller-Armack und das große S – 75 Jahre Soziale Marktwirtschaft' Traveling exhibition commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Social Market Economy concept, co-developed with ZÖBIS University Siegen and shown at IHK chambers, Kreissparkasse branches, schools, and cultural venues across Germany including Vreden, Bonn, IHK Bonn, Köln, Akademie Biggesee, Essen, Hannover, Stuttgart (Haus der Wirtschaft), and Munich (Literatureshaus München); free admission at all venues.
• MACRO-Planspiel (Economic Simulation Game) Economic simulation game developed in the mid-1990s that introduces students to the connections within a Social Market Economy; currently being modernized and revised.
• Alexander-Rüstow-Plakette Prestigious award presented since 1964 to prominent personalities for their contributions to strengthening the Social Market Economy; notable recipients include Ludwig Erhard, Franz Böhm, Karl Schiller, Helmut Schlesinger, Otto Graf Lambsdorff, Kurt Biedenkopf (2001), Bernhard Vogel (2004), Hans Willgerodt (2004), Horst Köhler (2011), Paul Kirchhof (2013), Angela Merkel (2017), Jeffrey D. Sachs (2021), and Deirdre N. McCloskey (2024).
• Alfred Müller-Armack Verdienstmedaille Merit medal honoring individuals who have committed themselves to the Social Market Economy as a living and dynamic economic and social order; recent recipients include Dr. Franz Schoser (2016), Dr. Walter Oswalt and Prof. Dr. Rolf H. Hasse (2018), Ortwin Guhl and Prof. Dr. Karen Horn (2022), and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Stark (2023).

Quantifiable outcome

• The organization has maintained continuous operation and influence for over 70 years since 1953, hosting more than 37 major conferences, the Wilhelm Röpke Lecture series (20 editions), Dialogseminars (33 editions), and Doktorandenseminare (12 editions).

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wilhelm-Röpke-Institut / Wilhelm-Röpke-ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Wilhelm-Röpke-Institut with seat in Erfurt merged into ASM in 2009. The Wilhelm-Röpke-Forum continues the tradition of the former institute, hosting the annual Doktorandenseminar and Wilhelm-Röpke-Vorlesung at Universität Erfurt. Prof. Dr. Gerhard Wegner serves as current leader of the Wilhelm-Röpke-Forum within ASM. The Forum maintains the digitized Wilhelm Röpke Archive available to researchers.
• Ludwig-Erhard-StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the annual Videowettbewerb for high school students. Winners are invited to the Ludwig-Erhard-Preis für Wirtschaftspublizistik ceremony where prizes are awarded.
• Zentrum für ökonomische Bildung an der Universität Siegen (ZÖBIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developer of educational materials for ASM's traveling exhibition on Alfred Müller-Armack and the Social Market Economy. ZÖBIS and ASM jointly developed teaching-learning materials for classroom use. Also co-organizer of the annual Videowettbewerb.
• Thüringer AufbaubankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue provider for the annual Wilhelm-Röpke-Vorlesung held in the rooms of Thüringer Aufbaubank in Erfurt. Hosts the lecture series as part of the Wilhelm-Röpke-Forum activities.
• Konrad-Adenauer-StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Promotionskolleg Soziale Marktwirtschaft (doctoral college) with ASM board member Prof. Rolf H. Hasse as speaker. Provides doctoral fellowships. Also listed as co-funder of the Dialogseminar series. ASM has collaborated with KAS on multiple events and publications.
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (regional, Paderborn)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMittelstands- und Wirtschaftsunion Paderborn (affiliated with KAS) co-hosted the traveling exhibition '75 Jahre Soziale Marktwirtschaft' at the Ludwig-Erhard-Berufskolleg Paderborn (January–February 2025).
• Weltethos-Institut Tübingen (Institute for the Ethics of Economics)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly produced the publication 'Wirtschaft denken! – 8 Ideen für eine klügere Wirtschaft' with ASM. Prof. Nils Goldschmidt serves as both ASM Vorstandsvorsitzender and Director of the Weltethos-Institut Tübingen, creating a direct institutional link.
• Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Tourismus Baden-WürttembergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-exhibitor of the '75 Jahre Soziale Marktwirtschaft' exhibition at Haus der Wirtschaft Stuttgart (February–April 2025). Minister Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut participated in the exhibition opening panel discussion.
• Walter Eucken Institut FreiburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-publisher of the 'Walter Eucken – Gesammelte Schriften' (Collected Works) critical edition. Supported by the Walter Eucken Institut, ASM, and Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena. ASM board member Prof. Lars P. Feld is Director of the Walter Eucken Institut.
• Kreissparkasse KölnminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosted the '75 Jahre Soziale Marktwirtschaft' exhibition in the Schalterhalle (lobby) of Kreissparkasse Köln (November 2023).
• Kreissparkasse HeinsbergminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosted the '75 Jahre Soziale Marktwirtschaft' exhibition in its public lobby (Schalterhalle) April–May 2024.
• IHK HannoverminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosted the traveling exhibition October–December 2024 at its premises at Bischofsholer Damm 91, Hannover.
• IHK Bonn/Rhein-SiegminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosted the exhibition July–August 2023 at Bonner Talweg 17, Bonn. Provided online booking system for school groups.
• Akademie BiggeseeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosted the exhibition September–November 2023 at Ewiger Straße 7–9, 57439 Attendorn. Free admission during opening hours, with group bookings via mail.
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS, national)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized a podiumsdiskussion with ASM during the exhibition at Akademie Biggesee (September 2023) on 'Soziale Marktwirtschaft vs. politische Polarisierung?'

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Walter Eucken Institut: Freiburg-based ordoliberal think tank and co-publisher (with ASM and Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena) of the Walter Eucken Gesammelte Schriften. Directly comparable mission around the Social Market Economy, overlapping academic leadership (Prof. Lars P. Feld sits on both institutions), and shared policy research output.
• Weltethos-Institut Tübingen: Institute for the Ethics of Economics, headed by Prof. Nils Goldschmidt (who is also ASM's Chairman). Jointly produced the publication 'Wirtschaft denken!' with ASM. Directly comparable in combining economic-policy research with public education and convening.
• Ludwig-Erhard-Stiftung: Co-organizer of ASM's annual Videowettbewerb for high school students and joint convener of the Ludwig-Erhard-Preis ceremony. A closely aligned German foundation promoting the Social Market Economy and free-market economic order with comparable educational outreach to students and the general public.
• Roman Herzog Institut: Munich-based think tank that awarded the Roman Herzog Forschungspreis 2016 to a book in ASM's Schriftenreihe. Operates in the same Social Market Economy / economic-policy-reform space with comparable publishing, research, and educational outreach.

Broad incumbents

• Hanns Martin Schleyer-Stiftung: Co-funder of ASM's Dialogseminar series since 1986 under its 'Junge Wissenschaft und Praxis' initiative. A larger German foundation with comparable event- and dialogue-driven programming for students, academics, and practitioners around economic and societal policy topics.
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung: Major German political foundation with which ASM jointly runs the Promotionskolleg Soziale Marktwirtschaft doctoral college and multiple events. Operates a much larger platform (think tank, education, scholarships, international programs) but shares ASM's market-economy-oriented policy research and event-driven educational programming.
• Heinz Nixdorf Stiftung: Co-funder of ASM's annual Videowettbewerb for high school students. A larger German educational foundation with comparable programmatic interest in economic education and supporting student/youth competitions.
• Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit: Major liberal German political foundation with a comparable focus on economic education, free-market policy research, student dialogue formats, and convening of policymakers and academics. Operates at greater scale and with international programming.
• Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW Köln): Major Cologne-based employer-affiliated economic research institute. Comparably focused on economic-policy research and public education in Germany, though much larger in headcount and with employer-funder rather than donation-based revenue model.

Emerging players

• Centrum für Europäische Politik (CEP): Freiburg-based policy think tank focused on European economic and regulatory policy with similar ordoliberal orientation. Comparable in academic-policy positioning but with a more EU-focused mandate rather than domestic Social Market Economy programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaRatiA9cSB248RYF_7PrRw
• Facebookfacebook.com/wirtschaftdenken
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aktionsgemeinschaft-soziale-marktwirtschaft

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Aktionsgemeinschaft Soziale Marktwirtschaft