Memoria an der Zeitenwende. Die Stiftungen Jakob Fuggers des Reichen vor und während der Reformation (ca. 1505-1555)

Accounting for the Benefits of Social Security and the Role of Business: Four Ideal Types and Their Different Heuristics

“…Broadly speaking, the poor had previously been regarded as an embodiment of Christ and, thus, an object for brotherly love and charity. However, that had changed and the prevailing distinction had become the one between deserving and undeserving poor, i.e., between those who were really in need and those who preferred begging for alms over working hard (Kießling, 1990;Scheller, 2004). Second, the economic and population development that societies underwent at that time caused poverty.…”

“…With their admittance to the Fuggerei, they agreed to pay a reduced rent for the apartment and to say three prayers each day for the donator and his family (a Lord's Prayer, a Hail Mary, and an Apostles' Creed). The annual rent of one Rhine guilder was set at 50-75% below the rent for comparable houses and corresponded approximately to the amount of money a day laborer could earn in a month's time (Scheller, 2004). By providing the worthy poor with housing at a reduced rate, the Fuggerei intended to prevent the working poor from crossing the line to unworthy behavior.…”

“…There has been some speculation about Jakob Fugger's intentions to establish the Fuggerei (Kieß-ling, 1990;Scheller, 2004;Tietz-Strödel, 1982). The first argument refers to a moral conflict potentially 249 Accounting for the Benefits of Social Security and the Role of Business experienced by rich medieval traders as their pursuit of profits was widely perceived to clash with the prevailing Christian values.…”

“…He ensured that the theologian and reformist Johannes Eck was able to elaborate his view on the compliance of charging an (moderate) interest with the canon law in Bologna in 1515 (Pölnitz, 1970). However, Fugger's support was rather a farsighted business decision than an expression of a personal moral dilemma, as the legality, and, thus, the enforceability of some of his contracts was at stake (Scheller, 2004). A second argument to explain Fugger's intentions is based on the social tensions prevailing in Germany at that time.…”

“…6 The Fuggerei withstood the ever-changing and sometimes turbulent conditions of the last half millennium and is presently home to approximately 150 people who still pay the equivalent of one Rhine guilder, i.e., 88 Euro cents, per year for their apartments (Graf Fugger von Glött, 2003). Its long history can be attributed to several factors, but three of them are especially noteworthy (Graf Fugger von Glött, 2003;Scheller, 2004): First, the Fuggerei's charter rests on a conception of charity that was widely shared at the time and has proven to be adaptable to the changing conditions over the centuries; second, its administrative structure entails a management committee of senior family members and external bailiffs. This has granted the foundation's independence from any religious institutions and their continuance.…”