Award ceremony 2009 of the Friedrich-August-von-Hayek-Stiftung

May 10, 2009 in the historic merchants' hall in Freiburg

On May 10, 2009, Václav Klaus was awarded the International Prize of the Friedrich-August-von-Hayek-Stiftung and Paul Kirchhof the Publishing Prize of the Friedrich-August-von-Hayek-Stiftung in the historic merchants' hall in Freiburg.

2009 was a year of global upheaval: the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis led to debates about state rescue packages and the regulation of the financial markets. During this time, Hayek's warnings about the danger of excessive state interference and the importance of economic freedom became particularly clear. The economic policy debate also focused on the stability and future of the European single currency, which underlined the topicality of Hayek's ideas on market self-regulation.