Angesichts der aktuellen wirtschaftlichen und sozialen Probleme hat die Soziale Marktwirtschaft viel von ihrem einstigen Glanz verloren. Ausgangsthese der Arbeit ist, daß diese Fehlentwicklungen ihre Ursache in einem institutionellen Misfit zwischen ökonomischem und politischem Bereich haben....

Why do businesses contribute to political parties? Is money a universal language? Do business contributions to political parties convey different messages in different countries? This book answers these questions based on intensive case studies of Australia, Canada, and Germany

Based on contribution patterns to parties in Germany and elsewhere, we suggest that democracies should use a mixed system where private funding can play a larger role than public funding. In Germany the high level of public funding for parties can be reduced without expecting undesirable effects...