Portrait of Ludwig Erhard
Center-right · Leader · From history

Ludwig Erhard

Chancellor of West Germany, 1963 to 1966

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Architect of West Germany’s postwar “economic miracle,” he combined free markets with rules against cartels and succeeded Konrad Adenauer as chancellor.

Ludwig Erhard sits in the right-libertarian part of the Caucus economy and liberty compass: strongly free market and centered on liberty and authority. The clearest positions are strongly institutional on institutions, strongly free market on economy and leaning tech-optimist on technology. The profile is close to the middle on liberty and authority, environment and war and peace.

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Where Ludwig Erhard sits on ten dimensions

Each scale runs from one pole to the other, and the dot shows the overall tendency of this person's record and public life. These are simplified estimates and open to debate.

💰EconomyStrongly free market
State-ledFree market
⚖️Liberty and authorityCentered on liberty and authority
LibertarianAuthoritarian
🎭CultureSlightly traditional
ProgressiveTraditional
🌍NationSlightly globalist
GlobalistNationalist
🌱EnvironmentCentered on environment
Growth-firstNature-first
🤖TechnologyLeaning tech-optimist
Tech-cautiousTech-optimist
🕊️War and peaceCentered on war and peace
Peace-firstStrength-first
🏛️InstitutionsStrongly institutional
Anti-establishmentInstitutional
🙏ReligionLeaning religious
SecularReligious
🛡️InterventionismCentered on interventionism
Non-interventionistInterventionist

People most like Ludwig Erhard

Mauricio Macri President of Argentina, 2015 to 201999%Sebastián Piñera President of Chile, 2010 to 2014 and 2018 to 202299%Luís Montenegro Prime Minister of Portugal, 2024 to present99%Brian Mulroney Prime Minister of Canada, 1984 to 199399%Luc Frieden Prime Minister of Luxembourg, 2023 to present99%Adolfo Suárez Prime Minister of Spain, 1976 to 198199%Alberto Núñez Feijóo Leader of Spain’s People’s Party, 2022 to present99%Edward Heath Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1970 to 197499%

People furthest from Ludwig Erhard

Emma Goldman Russian-born anarchist and writer, 1869 to 194012%Murray Bookchin American social theorist, 1921 to 200616%Mao Zedong Chairman of the Communist Party of China, 1943 to 197618%Peter Kropotkin Russian anarchist and naturalist, 1842 to 192119%

Political views closest to Ludwig Erhard

OrdoliberalismFavors competitive markets protected by firm rules and a strong state, the basis of…99%Fiscal conservatismPrioritizes low taxes, balanced budgets and limited public debt.99%Liberal conservatismCombines free markets and limited government with respect for institutions, tradition…99%Social market economyKeeps markets competitive but backs them with rules, social insurance and partnership…98%

Read more about Ludwig Erhard

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Biographies of Ludwig ErhardBooks on ordoliberalism

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Percentages show how close two profiles are across all ten dimensions. Including a person here is for study and comparison, not approval. Portrait: Eric Koch for Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; see all photo credits.