Translator’s Preface

It was in 1946, as an American exchange student at the University of Geneva, that I first heard expounded the economic principles and the economic philosophy which are set forth in this book. Listening to Wilhelm Röpke was a revelation; his lectures and seminars, presented in an elegant and dramatic English, were small masterpieces of economic wisdom and wit. But they were more than just exercises in economic analysis, for they were infused with Röpke’s own deep humanity, his vast learning in the sources of Western culture, ancient and modern, his passionate devotion to the grand principles of liberalism in the best sense. It is in gratitude for the inspiration received from a great teacher and a great economist that this English translation of Die Lehre von der Wirtschaft was undertaken.

Since the book first appeared in Austria in 1937, nine Swiss [German] editions of it have been published, manifest testimony to its continuing popularity and influence in central Europe. Successive translations into French (1940), Swedish (1946), Italian (1949), and Finnish (1951) expanded the book’s readership far beyond the confines of the German-speaking countries.

Through the years, the author has continually revised and updated his book; all of these revisions and additions have been incorporated into this English translation. In particular, it is necessary to note the introduction of new material especially for the American edition. Section 3, Chapter VIII, “The Impact of Keynesianism”, is newly added; it is based on two separate essays by Röpke, “Keynes und unsere Zeit” (1946) and “Was lehrt Keynes?” (1952), both of which have been reprinted in the anthology of Röpke’s articles, Gegen die Brandung (Zurich: Eugen Rentsch Verlag, 1959). New also is Section 3, Chapter IX, “The German Experiment in Noninflationary Market Economy.” Finally, references to German works in the “Notes” have been replaced, where possible, by English translations of such works, or have been supplemented by references to similar works in English. Except for these changes, the present English text conforms to the revised German text of 1961.

My especial thanks are due to Dr. Russell Kirk who read an early draft of the translation and whose encouragement contributed to its ultimate publication.

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, 1962

PATRICK M. BOARMAN