Eco-social Market Economy

Climate/Environment/Resources Economy Social policy

In the 1980s, Josef Riegler realized that the successful concept of the social market economy needed to be extended to include environmental considerations. In 1989 he formulated a new sociopolitical vision: the eco-social market economy.The eco-social market economy model uses the dynamics of the market to promote environmental protection. Through the internalization of environmental costs, the polluter pays principle and an eco-social tax reform, the market can set the right signals for sustainable development. If policymakers succeed in implementing this ambitious goal at all levels, environmental and climate protection will become a matter of course.In 1992 Riegler founded the Ecosocial Forum, which has been working to implement this idea ever since. In view of the current challenges, a development that promotes economic prosperity, social welfare and environmental protection in equal measure is more necessary than ever. In other words, an eco-social development that creates jobs, supports the economy and protects the environment. A balance between the three pillars requires moderation and continuous further development.Currently, the guiding principle of the eco-social market economy is the desire to enable the “generation climate change ” – the generations growing up with the knowledge of the effects of anthropogenic climate change – to live a good life in the long term. At the center of all considerations is the human being: a free, self-responsible and creative person who also takes responsibility for the well-being of others. Who acts regionally and thinks globally. Who sees the consequences of his or her actions in a larger geographical and historical context. In 2019, the scientific advisory board of the Ecosocial Forum formulated a policy paper that serves as a guide for the generation climate change. In it, the major challenges of our time are formulated from a Central European perspective. This paper outlines 13 fields of action that define the scope of work for the Ecosocial Forum in the coming years.