The Decree on the Elimination of Jews from Economic Life was enacted by Nazi Germany and was one of the significant steps taken in 1938 to isolate Jews socially and economically. This decree was a response to the growing anti-Jewish sentiment and aimed to exclude Jews entirely from participating in the economy. Under this decree, Jews were barred from selling goods, working in various trades, or even owning businesses, which collapsed a significant portion of Jewish livelihoods. The implementation of this policy was part of a wider agenda of systematic persecution that the Nazis had started to impose since coming to power in 1933.

The decree was a critical development following the nationwide pogrom known as Kristallnacht, which occurred earlier that month. Kristallnacht marked an escalation of violence against Jews and included the destruction of Jewish-owned businesses and synagogues. The economic disenfranchisement initiated by this decree created a climate where Jews faced not only societal exclusion but also economic destitution. Jewish business owners lost their livelihoods, and many were pushed towards poverty and homelessness as the Nazis fortified their grip on all aspects of life in Germany.

This policy also had a ripple effect throughout Europe, as Jews fled Germany seeking refuge in neighboring countries. However, many destinations restricted Jewish immigration, leading to a humanitarian crisis. The decree showcased the Nazis' systematic approach to dehumanizing Jews, laying the groundwork for the more extreme measures that would follow, including the eventual deportations to concentration camps. The economic segregation that began with this decree served as a precursor to complete social isolation and ultimately genocide during the Holocaust.