Erhard’s last personal academic assistant, Horst Friedrich Wünsche (1997, 155), claims that the ordoliberals had no direct impact on his political thought, but this disclaimer is hardly convincing given Erhard’s rather close personal ties with many ordoliberals and the extent to which his theoretical position overlaps with their work. If the theoretical development of the “new” liberalism is fully documented, it is impossible to view Erhard’s concept of a social market economy in isolation. Erhard was an avid participant in the ordoliberal mainstream, although his orientation and focus were geared toward the more practical side.

Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, loc. 534