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Prof. Dr. rer. pol.

Nils Goldschmidt

Global Ethic Institute

Christian Thiel/Deutscher Ethikrat

“In times of increasing polarisation, it is crucial to reach viable compromises within society. This requires exchange and dialogue - and different disciplinary perspectives. The economic perspective, thinking outside the box, respecting individual abilities and recognising the interdependence of social orders are important components here. Ethics is often also a question of scarce goods and resources. The social market economy is positioned at this intersection between efficiency and responsibility. It is about an economy for the people.”

Focus of the Commitment in the German Ethics Council

  • Economic ethics
  • Social security and social services
  • Intergenerational justice
  • Resilience of modern societies 

Professional Background

  • Since 2025 Director of the Global Ethic Institute, affiliated Institute at the University of Tübingen
  • Since 2013 Professor in Contextual Economics and Economic Education, Faculty of Economics, Business Informatics and Business Law, University of Siegen
  • 2015–2024 Director of the Center for Teacher Training and Educational Research at the University of Siegen
  • 2016 Appointment as Advisor to the Commission for Society and Social Affairs (VI) of the German Bishops’ Conference
  • 2010–2013 Professor for Social Policy and Social Administration, Department of Applied Social Sciences at the Munich University of Applied Sciences
  • 2012 Appointment to the Working Group for Socio-Political Issues of the Commission for Society and Social Affairs (VI) of the German Bishops’ Conference
  • 2011 Board of Directors, International Research Area on Catholic Social Doctrine, Pontifical Lateran University in Rome
  • 2010 Appointment as Academic Advisor at the doctoral programme “Social Market Economy” at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
  • 2008–2010 Deputy Professor for Social Policy and Organisation of Social Services at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich
  • 2008 Habilitation in Economics at the Institute of Economics and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Freiburg
  • 2002–2008 Research Associate at the Walter Eucken Institute in Freiburg
  • 2001 Doctorate (Dr. rer. pol.) at the Faculty of Economics, University of Freiburg
  • 1998–2002 Research Assistant at the Institute for General Economic Research, Section for Mathematical Economics, University of Freiburg
  • 1996–1998 Research Assistant at the Institute for Practical Theology, Department of Christian Social Teaching, University of Freiburg
  • 1990–1997 Studies in Catholic Theology and Economics at the University of Freiburg
     

Memberships

  • Since 2024 Member of the German Ethics Council
  • Since 2023 Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ludwig Erhard Forum
  • Since 2020 Vice-Chairman of the German Society for Economic Education
  • Since 2015 Member of the Board, Görres Society
  • Since 2014 Chairman of the Board of Aktionsgemeinschaft Soziale Marktwirtschaft
  • Since 2010 Member of the Advisory Council of the Roman Herzog Institute; since 2024 Chairman
  • Since 2008 Affiliated Fellow at the Walter Eucken Institute
  • Member of the Committees on “Economic Systems and Institutional Economics”, “Economics and Ethics” as well as “History of Economic Thought” at Verein für Socialpolitik

Awards

  • 2002 Constantin von Dietze Prize (for dissertation), Faculty of Economics, University of Freiburg
  • 1995 Bernhard Welte Prize (for diploma examination), Faculty of Theology, University of Freiburg

Selected publications

  • Fritz, R.; Goldschmidt, N.; Störring, M. (2023): Contextual liberalism: the ordoliberal approach to private vices and public benefits. Public Choice, 195 (3–4), 301–322. DOI: 10.1007/s11127-021-00879-w
  • Lenger, A.; Wolf, S.; Goldschmidt, N. (2021): Choosing inequality: how economic security fosters competitive regimes. Journal of Economic Inequality, 19 (2), 315–346. DOI: 10.1007/s10888-020-09472-5
  • Kolev, S.; Goldschmidt, N.; Hesse, J.-O. (2020): Debating liberalism: Walter Eucken, F. A. Hayek and the early history of the Mont Pèlerin Society. The Review of Austrian Economics, 33 (4), 433–463. DOI: 10.1007/s11138-019-0435-x
  • Wolf, S.; Goldschmidt, N. (2019): Klimaschutz auf Kosten der Armen? Vorschläge für eine markt- und sozialverträgliche Umsetzung von CO2-Steuern und des Emissionshandels. In: Müller, C. (ed.): ORDO – Jahrbuch für die Ordnung von Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft (Band 70). Berlin: de Gruyter, 125–165.
  • Goldschmidt, N.; Rauchenschwandtner, H. (2018): The philosophy of social market economy: Michel Foucault’s analysis of ordoliberalism. Journal of Contextual Economics, 138 (2), 157–184. DOI: 10.3790/schm.138.2.157
  • Wolf, S.; Goldschmidt, N.; Petersen, T. (2015): Votes on behalf of children: a legitimate way of giving them a voice in politics? Constitutional Political Economy, 26 (3), 356–374. DOI: 10.1007/s10602-015-9190-6