Walter Eucken Institut

What Walter Eucken Institut does

The Walter Eucken Institut e.V. is an independent, non-profit research institute founded in 1954 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, dedicated to ordoliberal and constitutional economics research in the tradition of the Freiburg School. Its work is organized around three research focus areas: economic policy and public finance (tax policy, fiscal rules, public debt, federalism), behavioral economics (tax compliance, audit effects, complexity of tax law, using administrative data, laboratory and field experiments, and surveys), and the history of economic thought (development of ordoliberalism and the Social Market Economy concept). The institute's products are scholarly rather than commercial: it publishes the Freiburger Diskussionspapiere zur Ordnungsökonomik (since 1998), the Beiträge zur Ordnungstheorie und Ordnungspolitik (BOrd, 170+ volumes since 1958), the Untersuchungen zur Ordnungstheorie und Ordnungspolitik (UOrd, 55+ volumes since 1962), ongoing collected-editions of Walter Eucken's and Friedrich A. von Hayek's German-language works, monographs, conference volumes, and annual reports.

The institute's revenue model is a hybrid non-profit mix of three streams: recurring membership fees from the Forum Ordnungspolitik membership program; donations and corporate sponsorship (named supporters include August Faller GmbH, Otto Graf GmbH, Neoperl GmbH, and Neugart GmbH); and commissioned research for federal and state ministries, political foundations (e.g., Friedrich Naumann Stiftung), political parties, associations, and international organizations. It does not sell products commercially; instead it distributes research outputs through academic publication channels (Mohr Siebeck), named lecture series and symposia, the regular Handelsblatt column "Ordnungsruf," podcast appearances, X/Twitter, YouTube, and direct advisory work with parliamentary committees, the Sachverständigenrat, the Mindestlohnkommission, and the Leopoldina. Customers served are governments and policymakers (primary), the academic research community (primary), and media and public-discourse audiences (secondary). Headcount stands at approximately 18-20 employees, of which 14 are research scientists as of January 2024.

Name

Walter Eucken Institut

Legal name

Walter Eucken Institut e.V.

Website

https://eucken.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Walter Eucken Institut is an independent, non-profit research institute in Freiburg, Germany, founded in 1954, conducting ordoliberal and constitutional economics research and advising German federal and state policymakers, the academic community, and the public through scholarly publications, commissioned studies, and a named lecture program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Policy Research and Publications

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (926)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA), Interdisciplinary & Multidisciplinary Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAI), Conference Proceedings & Research Reports Publishing (EDAGAFAL)

Keywords

• Ordoliberal economics research
• Economic policy analysis
• Constitutional economics research
• Behavioral economics research
• Scholarly publication series

Headquarters

HQ city

Freiburg im Breisgau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The institute operates as a registered association (e.V.) supported by members who pay fees. Members gain access to exclusive events, lectures, workshops, and symposia.
2. Donations and Sponsorship: The institute receives financial support from private individuals and corporate sponsors including August Faller GmbH, Otto Graf GmbH, Neoperl GmbH, Neugart GmbH, and others.
3. Commissioned Research: The institute conducts research commissioned by government ministries, political parties, associations, and international organizations, including studies for the Federal Ministry of Economics, Friedrich Naumann Stiftung, and various state ministries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Walter Eucken Institut is an independent, non-profit research institute that conducts foundational research in ordoliberal and constitutional economics in the tradition of the Freiburg School. It delivers commissioned policy research for government ministries and foundations, publishes scholarly works across multiple book and discussion paper series, hosts a program of named lectures and symposia, and operates a membership-based community (Forum Ordnungspolitik) for engagement with policymakers, academics, and the broader public.

Product overview

The Walter Eucken Institut is a research institute focused on constitutional economics and ordoliberalism, offering a portfolio of scholarly publications and research programs rather than a unified software product. Its publication portfolio includes the Freiburger Diskussionspapiere zur Ordnungsökonomik (discussion papers since 1998), the comprehensive Editionsprojekt Walter Eucken (collecting Walter Eucken's complete works), and the Editionsprojekt Friedrich A. von Hayek (German-language collected works of Hayek). The institute also publishes the Beiträge zur Ordnungstheorie und Ordnungspolitik (BOrd, over 170 shorter scientific contributions since 1958), the Untersuchungen zur Ordnungstheorie und Ordnungspolitik (UOrd, 55+ comprehensive studies since 1962), monographs and conference volumes, and annual reports from 1995. Research activities are organized into three main focus areas: Economic Policy and Public Finance, Behavioral Economics (using experiments and surveys to study tax compliance), and History of Economic Thought (examining ordoliberalism's development). The institute also operates an events program featuring named lectures (Walter-Eucken-Vorlesung, Franz-Böhm-Vorlesung, Friedrich A. von Hayek-Vorlesung), workshops, and symposia, and awards the Walter-Eucken-Medaille to distinguished contributors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Freiburger Diskussionspapiere zur Ordnungsökonomik Academic discussion paper series in constitutional economics and ordoliberalism, published regularly by the Walter Eucken Institut and available from 1998 onwards.
• Beiträge zur Ordnungstheorie und Ordnungspolitik (BOrd) Series of shorter scientific contributions on ordoliberal theory and policy from renowned authors, established in 1958 with over 170 publications.
• Untersuchungen zur Ordnungstheorie und Ordnungspolitik (UOrd) Series of comprehensive scientific studies on constitutional economics from economic or legal perspectives, established in 1962 with over 55 publications.
• Editionsprojekt Walter Eucken – Gesammelte Schriften Scholarly edition compiling the most important writings and works of Walter Eucken (1891–1950), including monographs, articles, letters, diaries, and unpublished manuscripts from his estate.
• Editionsprojekt Friedrich A. von Hayek – Gesammelte Schriften in deutscher Sprache Scholarly German-language edition collecting Friedrich A. von Hayek's essays and books originally written in German or in authorized translation.
• Monographien und Tagungsbände Monographs and conference volumes published by the Walter Eucken Institut on ordoliberalism and economic policy topics.
• Forum Ordnungspolitik (Membership Program) Membership community supporting the Walter Eucken Institut that provides members access to exclusive lectures, workshops, symposia, and the opportunity to meet notable speakers.
• Events and Lectures Program Recurring program of named lectures (Walter-Eucken-Vorlesung, Franz-Böhm-Vorlesung, Friedrich A. von Hayek-Vorlesung), workshops, symposia, and the Freiburger Salon hosted by the Walter Eucken Institut.
• Economic Policy and Public Finance Research Commissioned and foundational research on government budget conditions, tax policy, fiscal rules, public debt limits, and the financial interactions between federal and state levels, delivered to government ministries, parliamentary committees, and foundations.
• Behavioral Economics Research Empirical behavioral economics research using administrative data, laboratory and field experiments, and surveys, with focus on tax compliance determinants, tax audit effects, and responses to tax law complexity.
• History of Economic Thought Research Scholarly research on the emergence, development, and current significance of ordoliberal thinking, particularly the influence of ordoliberalism on the Social Market Economy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 225 publications in specialized book series (BOrd and UOrd) since foundation
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Forum OrdnungspolitikcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe institute collaborates closely with the Forum Ordnungspolitik, a membership organization that supports the institute's work. The Forum and institute jointly award the Walter-Eucken-Medaille to individuals who have made significant contributions to ordoliberal thinking or the institute's mission.
• Albert-Ludwigs-Universität FreiburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe institute maintains a close relationship with the University of Freiburg, where Director Lars P. Feld holds the Chair of Economic Policy and Regulatory Economics. The institute hosts the 'Samstagsuni' lecture series and collaborates on research and academic events.
• Friedrich Naumann Stiftung für die FreiheitmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned study on 'Die Schuldenbremse – ein Garant für nachhaltige Haushaltspolitik' (The debt brake as a guarantee for sustainable fiscal policy), April 2024
• Aktionskreis Freiburger SchulecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Walter-Eucken-Vorlesung and co-awarder of the Walter-Eucken-Medaille
• Leopoldina (Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector Lars P. Feld is a member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• Mont Pelerin SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector Lars P. Feld is a member of the Mont Pelerin Society, an international think tank dedicated to classical liberalism
• Kronberger KreismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector Lars P. Feld is a member of the Kronberger Kreis, a group of German economists providing policy advice

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aktionskreis Freiburger Schule: Co-organizer of the Walter-Eucken-Vorlesung and co-awarder of the Walter-Eucken-Medaille alongside the institute; directly comparable as a partner organization in the Freiburg Ordoliberal tradition.
• Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Halle (IWH): Halle-based economic research institute focused on productivity, financial markets, and structural change; comparable as a German economics think tank producing commissioned empirical research for policy clients.
• ifo Institut: Leading Munich-based economic research institute publishing the ifo Business Climate Index and producing policy-relevant economic research for German and European audiences; comparable as a German economics think tank providing empirical policy advice, though significantly larger in scale.
• ZEW (Centre for European Economic Research): Mannheim-based economic policy research institute focused on labor markets, European integration, and fiscal policy; comparable to the Walter Eucken Institut as a German economics think tank producing commissioned research for ministries and foundations.
• Sachverständigenrat zur Begutachtung der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung: German Council of Economic Experts, of which Director Lars P. Feld is Chairman since 2020; directly comparable as a German economic policy advisory body that produces commissioned analyses on fiscal, tax, and competition policy.
• DIW Berlin: Berlin-based economic research institute conducting applied economic policy research with strong ties to German ministries and the European Commission; comparable as a German economics think tank providing policy advice on fiscal and regulatory matters.
• Forum Ordnungspolitik: Membership-based supporting organization closely aligned with the Walter Eucken Institut, co-awarding the Walter-Eucken-Medaille; directly comparable as a membership-driven arm of the ordoliberal policy ecosystem in Germany.
• Stiftung Marktwirtschaft: Berlin-based think tank promoting market-economy policy reform in Germany, with overlapping focus on ordoliberal economic policy and competition issues; closely comparable in ideological orientation and policy-commission profile.
• Kronberger Kreis: Group of German economists publishing policy papers on market-economy reform, of which Director Lars P. Feld is a member; directly comparable as a German economic policy advisory network producing commissioned-style briefs.

Broad incumbents

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: Major German foundation conducting economic and social policy research, including sustainability and fiscal studies; comparable as a broader, better-funded institution commissioning and producing economic policy research in Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EuckenInstitut
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/walter-eucken-institut

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Walter Eucken Institut