Abelshauser’s dissertation was the first theory-based thesis on the causes of the German “Wirtschaftswunder” that included the relevant sources for that topic. Its findings put into perspective the impact of the Marshall Plan, the monetary reform of 1948 and Ludwig Erhard’s model of social market economy as the crucial forces behind the comeback of the West German economy in the 1950s. Instead the study points out the importance of the specific circumstances of reconstruction of the West German economy, which could not be reproduced after the ‘long’ 1950s. Most of Abelshauser’s arguments were first fiercely criticized by historians as well as in prominent public newspapers like the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Today his thesis is broadly accepted in the field. The news weekly “Die Zeit” concluded in 1996 that Abelshauser rewrote the economic history of the Federal Republic. His book “Deutsche Wirtschaftsgeschichte seit 1945” is among the benchmarks of German economic history. Abelshauser’s second field of research is business history. His work on the history of the chemical company BASF and on the history of the steel giant Krupp during the Third Reich is core literature for the “new business history” and was crucial for the emergence of this new discipline. Here, Abelshauser focuses on specific and historically established cultures of the companies and their economic importance for current business decisions. A third field is the reaction of the German social system of production to the second economic revolution. According to Abelshauser, Globalization and scientification at the end of the 19th century created “new industries” that focused on immaterial production. During that time a set of economic institutions were established which still shape the German economy. His Volume “The Dynamics of German Industry” interprets historic and recent pressures on these institutions as part of a struggle between two different systems of capitalisms. His thesis, which - up to the financial crisis of 2008 - was standing against the scientific and public mainstream, gives him the reputation of a prominent supporter of the German/European model of capitalism in the era of Globalization. Recently, Abelshausers focus turned towards scientific biography. As shown in his work on Hans Matthoefer, he aims to find out, under which conditions people change their way of thinking and acting and, by doing so, help to create new economic, political or social institutions. With his biographical approach Abelshauser added a new method to the corpus of the school of New Institutional Economics.
The Dynamics of German Industry. Germany’s Path toward the New Economy and the American Challenge, Berghahnbooks, New York, Oxford 2005,, Jap. edition: Keizaibunka no tousou, 3rd, enlarged edition of the German original, University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo 2009,.
Deutsche Wirtschaftsgeschichte seit 1945. C. H. Beck Verlag, Munich 2004,. Jap. edition: Gendai Doitsu Keizairon, Asashi Shuppansha, Tokyo 1994,.
Wirtschaft in Westdeutschland 1945-1948. Rekonstruktion und Wachstumsbedingungen in der amerikanischen und britischen Zone, Diss., Universität Bochum, Abteilung für Geschichtswissenschaft; also: DVA, Stuttgart 1975,
Wirtschaft und Rüstung in den Fünfziger Jahren. , Bd. 4/1, ed. by Militärgeschichtliches Forschungsamt, Oldenbourg Verlag, Munich 1997. Reprint 2001,.
Rüstungsschmiede der Nation? Der Kruppkonzern im Dritten Reich und in der Nachkriegszeit 1933–1951., Siedler Verlag, Berlin 2002,.
Des Kaisers neue Kleider? Wandlungen der sozialen Marktwirtschaft, München 2009,.
Ruhrkohle und Politik: Ernst Brandi 1875–1937 — Eine Biographie . Klartext, Essen 2009..
Nach dem Wirtschaftswunder. Der Gewerkschafter, Politiker und Unternehmer Hans Matthoefer, Dietz Verlag, Bonn 2009,.
