The Verein für Socialpolitik ('German Economic Association') is one of the oldest and largest professional associations in the field of economics in the world. The association aims to promote science and research. In doing so, it addresses economic and socio-political problems and provides scientific analysis. The association is particularly interested in fostering international relations and cooperation between academics from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
History of the Association
Founding
The Verein für Socialpolitik was founded in 1873. It was founded as a result of a meeting of leading figures from journalism, academia, politics and business in 1872. It was directed against the laissez-faire social policy of the German Manchester School on the one hand, and against the social-revolutionary ideas of emerging socialism on the other.
The founders of the association, for whom the term 'Kathedersozialisten' soon became commonplace, wanted, in the words of its long-serving president (1890-1917) Gustav Schmoller, 'to raise, educate and reconcile the lower classes on the basis of the existing order, so that they would fit into the organism in harmony and peace'. The development from a socio-political 'agitation association' to a politically neutral, interdisciplinary society began under Schmoller and was marked by serious internal dispute.
Dissolution and a New Beginning
After the publication of 190 volumes of the 'Schriften des Vereins für Socialpolitik', this development was interrupted in 1936 when the association voluntarily dissolved itself in order to avoid an attempt to subordinate it to the 'Deutsche Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Gesellschaft', which was loyal to the regime. The Verein für Socialpolitik was re-established in 1948.
Further Information
To mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the association in 2023, an article has been published in 'Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik' which looks at the origins and recent developments of the association.
In 2010 the historical development of the Verein für Socialpolitik was analysed in a master thesis at the University of Graz (see Oschina, Susanne: 'Die Entwicklung des Vereins für Socialpolitik von seiner Gründung bis 1980', Graz, 2010).