Sunday, April 8, 2012

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Merkelism


1) Some claim that Ordoliberalism is the key to understanding not only Merkel's but also Germany's POV on the Euro crisis issue, fiscal union, the fiscal compact, austerity, etc. I am not convinced (not yet at least).

2) I am sure most of you are familiar with Max Weber's 1905 book "The Protestant Work Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" (for a summary, see Wikipedia). Following on his theory:

Of the 17 Eurozone members, 3 have a dominant or somewhat dominant Protestant tradition (but not necessarily Calvinist, see eg Finland (Lutheran)), 2 Eastern Orthodox,1 atheist, 11 Roman Catholic.

Does that profile of traditions across the Eurozone affect the appeal of Merkel/CDU socio-economic thinking?


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