Majority of Germans Positive about Social Market Economy

Participants’ affirmation of the social market economy varies according to their political allegiance. Approval ratings were significantly higher among supporters of those parties that have governed at the federal level (CDU/CSU and SPD: 7.2 points; Greens and FDP: 7.1 points) than among Linke (6.0 points) and AfD (6.1 point) voters. People with less advanced academic qualifications or a low household income were also much more critical of the social market economy. “One possible conclusion is that people’s perception of their own opportunities affects whether or not they approve,” Necker said.

At the same time, the survey revealed gaps in respondents’ knowledge about the historical origins of the social market economy in Germany: only 50 percent were able to name the German politician instrumental in its introduction in Germany. There was a close correlation between knowledge of the subject and approval rating: respondents who answered this question correctly gave the social market economy a very respectable average score of 7.5 points. By contrast, the average rating among those who answered incorrectly was 6.5 points.

Participants were asked to rate the social market economy on a scale of 1 to 10 (1: “very poor,” 10: “very good”). They also stated which party won their second vote in Germany’s 2021 federal election. Knowledge of the historical origins was determined by the question: Which politician was instrumental in Germany’s adoption of a social market economy? Appearing alongside the correct answer – Ludwig Erhard – were the names of every German Chancellor since 1982.