Prof. Gerhard Merk

Professor Gerhard Merk (* May 8, 1931 in Mannheim; † November 24, 2020 in Siegen) worked at the University of Siegen from 1964 until his death in 2020.

He was an esteemed economist, social ethicist and textbook author.

This page is dedicated to the memory of his work at the University of Siegen and his research in the field of economics and Jung-Stilling. An archived version of Mr. Merk's original website can be found here.

An obituary of Professor Franke-Viebach can be found here.

Independent book publications

Scientific Market Research. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1962
The urgency of economic education. Essen (Society for Economic Studies) 1965
Programmed introduction to economics. Wiesbaden (Gabler)
Volume 1: Fundamentals, 1973
Volume 2: Households, companies and the market, 1974
Volume 3: Monetary system, macro-equilibrium and growth forces, 1974
Volume 4: Growth, government and distribution, 1974
Introduction to the theory of money. Frankfurt am Main (Knapp) 1974 (Text- und Arbeitsbücher Geld-Bank-Börse)
Grundlehren der Nationalökonomik, 2 vols. Frankfurt am Main (Knapp) 1975 (Pocket books for money, bank and stock exchange, Nº 63 and Nº 64)
Microeconomics. Stuttgart, Berlin, Cologne, Mainz (Kohlhammer) 1976
On the limitation of offensive advertising. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1977 (Volkswirtschaftliche Schriften, 267)
Basic concepts of epistemology for economists. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1985
This book can be downloaded free of charge for private use → see "Downloads"
Chief miner Johann Heinrich Jung. A biography. Kreuztal (publishing house die wielandschmiede) 1989
Jung-Stilling. An outline of his life, 5th ed. Siegen (Jung-Stilling Society) 2017
Johann Heinrich (John Henry) Jung, named Stilling (1740-1817). A biographical and bibliographical survey in chronological order. Siegen (Jung-Stilling-Society) 2017
Several literary publications and a theological work under a pseudonym
Annotated new edition of seventeen works by Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling

Editorships

Acta Monetaria. Yearbook for monetary order and monetary policy. Frankfurt (Knapp) 1977-1980. Co-editors: Professors Friedrich Beutter (Lucerne), Gordon R. Dunstan (London). Ronald H. Preston (Manchester), Rudolf Weiler (Vienna) and Valentin Zsifkovits (Graz).
Permanent and Changeable in Catholic Social Teaching. In memory of Anton Burghardt. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1982.
Co-editor: Alfred Klose (Vienna).
Market economy and social order. Wolfgang Schmitz on his 60th birthday. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1983.
Co-editor: Alfred Klose (Vienna).
The social function of the market. Contributions to the regulatory learning process. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1988.
Co-editors: Herbert Schambeck (Vienna), Wolfgang Schmitz (Vienna).
Jung-Stilling-Lexikon Wirtschaft. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1987.
Jung-Stilling-Lexikon Religion. Kreuztal (wielandschmiede) 1988.
(Jung-Stilling:) Appropriate management. Six lectures. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1988.
(Jung-Stilling:) Wirtschaftslehre und Landeswohlstand. Six academic speeches. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1988.
(Jung-Stilling:) Social grievances. A selection of flowers from the "Volkslehrer". Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1990.
(Jung-Stilling:) Society, life and profession. Stories from the "Volkslehrer". Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1990.
Eleven further new editions of Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling's writings in book form, mostly in the series "Jung-Stilling-Schriften" and "Jung-Stilling-Studien".

Festschriften

Gold. Raw material - hoarding object - monetary metal.
Festgabe for Professor Dr. Gerhard Merk. Frankfurt am Main (Knapp) 1981.
With 12 contributions by authors from 6 countries. Subject index.
Views on Jung-Stilling.
Commemorative publication for the 60th birthday of Gerhard Merk. Kreuztal (wielandschmiede) 1991.
With 9 contributions by Jung-Stilling experts. Subject index.
Goods and ungoods.
A friend's edition for Gerhard Merk on his 60th birthday. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1991.
With 10 contributions on the conceptual, ethical, philosophical, medical, theological, environmental, pedagogical and statistical aspects of the subject. Subject index.

Four books are dedicated to Professor Gerhard Merk in Siegen:
(1) Gerhard Schwinge: Herr, zeig mir stets die rechte Spur.
Spiritual stories and poems.
Lahr 1990.
(2) Alfred Klose: Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling as a social ethicist.
Siegen 1992
(3) Alfred Klose: Social responsibility of the Christian.
From the world of thought of Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling (1740-1817).
Siegen 1996.
(4) Alfred Klose: Um eine zukunftsweisende Kulturethik.
Vienna 2001.

Journal articles

About 70 scientific essays, numerous newspaper articles and over 150 book reviews - especially as a reviewer of new publications in economics for the "Literatur-Report" of the Association of Catholic Publishers and Booksellers from volume 58 (1971/72) to volume 69 (1982/83) - in the fields of economics, marketing, social ethics and business education.

Selected essays (in chronological order)

(1) Wahrscheinlichkeitstheorie und Investitionstheorie, in: Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, vol. 81 (1958), p. 66 ff.
(2) Zur Frage der Zinselastizität der Investitionen, in: Zeitschrift für die gesamte Staatswissenschaft, vol. 114 (1958), p. 454 ff.
(3) Some remarks on investment, in: Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics, vol. 94 (1958), p. 98 ff.
(4) Marktlagengewinne und Überakkumulation, in: Zeitschrift für Nationalökonomie, vol. 18 (1958), p. 174 ff.
(5) Once again: The need for investment is declining, in: Der Volkswirt, vol. 12 (1958), p. 963 f.
(6) Does the level of investment depend on the expected profit?, in: Zeitschrift für die gesamte Staatswissenschaft, vol. 114 (1958), p. 652 ff.
(7) Pioneers and pioneer profits, in: Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Volkswirtschaft und Statistik, vol. 95 (1959), p. 47 ff.
(8) A controversy in energy policy, in: Wirtschaftsdienst, Vol. 39 (1959), p. 371 ff.
(9) Export problems of mechanical engineering companies, in: Wirtschaftsdienst, Vol. 39 (1959), p. 675 ff.
(10) Der Zinssatz und Kapitalverschiebungen nach Entwicklungsländern, in: Zeitschrift für Nationalökonomie, vol. 19 (1959), p. 494 f.
(11) On some questions of commercial instruction in industrial companies, in: Wirtschaft und Berufs-Erziehung, vol. 12 (1960), p. 3 ff.
(12) Children of factory employees as junior staff in the company, in: Zentralblatt für Arbeitswissenschaft, vol. 15 (1961), p. 185 ff.
(13) Volksschüler als kaufmännische Lehrlinge in Industriebetrieben und Banken, in: Wirtschaft und Berufs-Erziehung, vol. 13 (1961), p. 27 ff.
(14) Methods of ecoscopic market research in practice, in: Zeitschrift für Markt- und Meinungsforschung, vol. 5 (1961/62), p. 1204 ff.
(15) Fundamental considerations on commercial factory instruction, in: Wirtschaft und Berufs-Erziehung, vol. 14 (1962), p. 69 ff.
(16) What is "local manufacturing"?, in: Wirtschaftsdienst, vol. 42 (1962), issue 11, p. XII
(17) Marktforschung als Unterrichtsfach an Höhere Wirtschaftsfachschulen, in: Der Marktforscher, vol. 6 (1962), p. 147 ff.
(18) On the concept of expectations in economics, in: Zeitschrift für Nationalökonomie, vol. 22 (1963), p. 438 ff.
(19) On the selection of lecturers at the Höhere Wirtschaftsfachschule, in: Wirtschaft und Berufs-Erziehung, vol. 15 (1963), p. 182 ff.
(20) Lehrlinge als Informationsträger im Betrieb, in: Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie, vol. 15 (1963), p. 270 ff.
(21) Market research and econometrics, in: Der Betriebswirt, vol. 1 (1964), p. 1 ff.
(22) Die telephonische Befragung in der Marktforschung, in: Schmalenbachs Zeitschrift für betriebswirtschaftliche Forschung NF, Vol. 16 (1964), p. 526 ff.
(23) Marktforscher im Spiegel von Stellenanzeigen, in: Der Marktforscher, vol. 8 (1964), p. 59 ff.
(24) Vom Bildungsgehalt der Marktforschung, in: Forschen-Planen-Entscheiden, Zeitschrift für praktische Marktforschung, vol. 1 (1965), p. 59 ff.
(25) Marktforschung im Banne der Psychologie, in: Der Betriebswirt, vol. 2 (1965), p. 3 ff.
(26) Die Höhere Wirtschaftsfachschule in Schwierigkeiten, in: Wirtschaft und Berufs-Erziehung, vol. 17 (1965), p. 2 ff.
(27) Betriebswirtschaftliche Marktforschung?, in: Der Marktforscher, vol. 9 (1965), p. 222 ff.
(28) Corbière and the social theory in the Catholic Church of the 19th century, in: Die Neue Ordnung, vol. 20 (1966), p. 309 ff.
(29) Probleme von Befragungen in der Intimsphäre, in: Der Marktforscher, vol. 10 (1966), p. 114 ff.
(30) Market research in the economics of education, in: Der Marktforscher, vol. 10 (1966), p. 152 ff.
(31) Volkswirtschaftslehre und katholische Sozialtheorie, in: Zeitschrift für Evangelische Ethik, vol. 11 (1967), p. 257 ff.
(32) Pastoral economics, in: Trierer Theologische Zeitschrift (Pastor Bonus), vol. 76 (1967), p. 385 ff.
(33) Wessenbergs ökonomische und soziale Auffassungen, in: Freiburger Diözesan-Archiv, vol. 88 (1968), p. 463 ff.
(34) Market research and statistics, in: Der Betriebswirt, vol. 9 (1968), p. 3 ff.
(35) Möglichkeiten einer vindikativen Devisenterminpolitik der Zentralbank, in: Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften (Schmollers Jahrbuch), vol. 93 (1973), p. 323 ff.
(36) On the concept of function in the economy, in: Der Betriebswirt, vol. 14 (1973), p. 1 ff.
(37) The concepts of process policy, structural policy and regulatory policy, in: Jahrbuch für Sozialwissenschaft, vol. 26 (1975), p. 343 ff.
(38) Management ideology and theological doctrines. Current elective affinities, in: Die Neue Ordnung, vol. 29 (1975), p. 221 ff.
(39) Causes and conditions of inflation, in: Österreichisches Bank-Archiv, vol. 23 (1975), p. 261 ff.
(40) The "causes" of inflation, in: Monatsblätter für freiheitliche Wirtschaftspolitik, vol. 21 (1975), p. 276 ff.
(41) Causes and Conditions of Inflation, in: Acta Monetaria, Yearbook of Monetary Principles and Monetary Ethics, vol. 1 (1977), p. 131 ff.
(42) Development Aid and the IMF, in: Acta Monetaria, Yearbook of Monetary System and Monetray Policy, vol. 2 (1978), p. 103 ff.
(43) The concept and measurement of inflation, in: Acta Monetaria, Yearbook of Monetary System and Monetary Policy, vol. 3 (1979), p. 27 ff.
(44) Effects and consequences of inflation, in: Acta Monetaria, Jahrbuch für Geldordnung und Geldpolitik, vol. 4 (1980), p. 97 ff.
(45) Ursätze, Leitsätze und Erfahrung in der Ethik, in: Valentin Zsifkovits, Rudolf Weiler (eds.): Erfahrungsbezogene Ethik. Festschrift for Johannes Messner on his 90th birthday. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1981, p. 193 ff.
(46) Zur Zielordnung, in: Alfred Klose, Gerhard Merk (eds.): Bleibendes und Veränderliches in der Katholischen Soziallehre. In memory of Anton Burghardt. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1982, p. 9 ff.
(47) Das Verhältnis von Wirtschaft zu Politik, in: Alfred Klose, Gerhard Merk (eds.): Marktwirtschaft und Gesellschaftsordnung. Wolfgang Schmitz on his 60th birthday. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1983, p. 11 ff.
(48) On some fundamental questions of Catholic social teaching, in: Gesellschaft und Politik, Vol. 20 (1984), p. 18 ff.
(49) On business ethics, in: Alfred Klose, Herbert Schambeck, Rudolf Weiler (eds.): Das Neue Naturrecht. The renewal of the doctrine of natural law by Johannes Messner. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1985, p. 217 ff.
(50) Inflation - Das Los der Zukunft?, in: Hans Halbheer, Ernst Kilgus (eds.): Der Finanzplatz Schweiz und seine Bedeutung aus nationaler und internationaler Sicht. Bern, Stuttgart 1985, p. 183 ff. (Bankwirtschaftliche Forschungen, vol. 91).
(51) Article "Inflation", in: Staatslexikon, 7th ed., vol. 3, Freiburg (Herder) 1987, p. 67 ff.
(52) Konfliktstau durch Ungüter, in: Alfred Klose, Heribert F. Köck, Herbert Schambeck: (eds.): Frieden und Gesellschaftsordnung. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1988, p. 197 ff.
(53) Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling as a farmer, in: Land, Agrarwirtschaft und Gesellschaft, vol. 7 (1990), p. 239 ff.
(54) Theological objections to the establishment of ethical norms, in: Hans Walther Kaluza, Heribert Franz Köck and Herbert Schambeck (eds.): Glaube und Politik. Festschrift for Robert Prantner. Berlin (Duncker & Humblot) 1991, p. 99 ff.
(55) Das ideale politische System nach Jung-Stilling, in: Gertraud Putz, Herbert Dachs, Franz Horner, Ferdinand Reisinger (eds.): Politik und christliche Verantwortung. Innsbruck, Vienna (Tyrolia) 1992 (Veröffentlichungen des Internationalen Forschungszentrums für Grundfragen der Wissenschaften Salzburg NF, Vol. 53), p. 117 ff.
(56) Die Prinzipien der Katholischen Soziallehre als Grundlage einer sachgerechten Wirtschaft, in: Otto Kimminich, Alfred Klose, Leopold Neuhold (eds.): Mit Realismus und Leidenschaft. Ethics in the service of a humane world. Graz, Budapest (Schnider) 1993, p. 395 ff.
(57) Wirtschaftskrise?, in: Informationen der Internationalen Treuhand AG Basel, Genf, Zürich, Nº 96, November 1994
(58) Market economy and qualitative welfare, in: Die Neue Ordnung, Vol. 50 (1996), p. 435 ff.
(59) Benevolent pornography?, in: The New Order, Vol. 52 (1998), p. 45 ff.
(60) Dauerforderungen, in: Informationen der Internationalen Treuhand AG, Basel, Geneva, Zurich,^No 104, November 1998, p. 14 ff.
(61) On Jung-Stilling's religious thinking, in: Offene Tore, Vol. 44 (2000), p. 23 ff.
(62) Globalization: some key ideas, in: Information from Internationale Treuhand AG, Basel, Geneva, Zurich, № 112, November 2002, p. 21 ff.

Students can receive a reprint or a copy of the listed papers on reasoned request.

Several of the papers listed here can also be found in pdf format under Downloads.

-	1931 Born in Mannheim
-	1955 Diploma in economics, University of Heidelberg
-	1956 Graduate commercial teacher, University of Mannheim
-	1957 Dr.rer.pol., University of Heidelberg
	(Topic of dissertation: "The investment function")
-	1958 Group Management Fried. Krupp, Essen, central sales department, market research department
-	1964 Lecturer at the Staatliche Höhere Wirtschaftsfachschule, Siegen
-	1972 Professor at the University of Siegen
-	1996 Retired; continued to teach and research at the university without pay.
-	Died in Siegen in 2020
Married since 1964 to Dr.rer.nat. Martha Merk-Jansen, pharmacist from Aachen, died on June 30, 2010. Two children: Irene (graduate physicist, graduate computer scientist, Dr.rer.nat.), Judith (industrial clerk, graduate in business administration).

Below you will find the subject areas in which he primarily conducted research:

-	The concept and measurement (statistical recording) of inflation
-	European monetary union
-	Content and scope of the term "prosperity" (meaning of the term "good" and its relationship to "ungood")
-	Basic questions of social ethics; history of social theories
-	Logic of the social sciences
-	Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling (1740-1817), life and work

Teaching aids

Questions and tasks

Financial terms

financial terms.pdf

Around 12,000 terms from the world of finance are explainedhere -- (1) -- briefly, -- (2) -- in English translation and often incorporated into complete sentences -- (3 ) -- with references to the reports (also available as downloads) of the European Central Bank, the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority and the Financial Stability Report of the Deutsche Bundesbank, which is published annually in the fall.

The compilation has not been updated since fall 2014

Essays on economics

essays pedagogy

Essays on social ethics

Jung-Stilling teachings

miscellaneous

epistemology (textbook)

textbook.pdf

With the permission of the publisher Duncker & Humblot GmbH (Berlin), students may use the textbook published in 1985 and out of print in bookstores

"Basic concepts of epistemology for economists"

for private use (122 pages) and save it.