Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on links between former “Heilbronn Symposia” on social, economic and political changes, and evolutionary concepts of the nineteenth and early twentieth century to solve the “Social Question” (“S. Qu.”) in Germany....

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the work of Bismarck in relation to social legislation. Design/methodology/approach – Bismarck's points of views are sketched mainly through quotations from his speeches in Parliament. His position regarding social protection is discussed and...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare typical social problems in Germany and Japan in the context of weavers and female weavers. Design/methodology/approach – The paper compares Gerhardt Hauptmann's Weavers (1892) with Wakizo Hosoi's The Tragic History of Female Weavers (1925)....

The Netherlands, Women Gives a historical perspective on the economic position of women and the participation of women in the labour market, starting with Mill and Taylor′s The Subjection of Women . Reviews the current position, particularly in The Netherlands. Briefly summarises other papers...

Purpose – The paper aims to provide an overview of the Austrian School's approaches to the social question before World War I. Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a comparative study. Findings – In his contributions Friedrich von Wieser supported co‐operative...

Purpose – In view of current catchwords like globalisation, internationalisation and flexible markets, it should be remembered that many of the fundamental economic positions which are assigned to those terms were already put forward by promoters of the social question. The questions discussed...