Restructuring the Welfare State

In May of 2015, general elections in the United Kingdom shocked the world as a new Conservative government was voted into power, ending five years of coalition governance. Both a response to the actio

In May of 2015, general elections in the United Kingdom shocked the world as a new Conservative government was voted into power, ending five years of coalition governance. Both a response to the actio

The modern welfare state is under threat from a variety of fronts. Changing demographic patterns, declining public trust, interest group demands and growing international competition for capital and l

In a period of rapid change for welfare states around the world, this insightful book offers a comparative study of three historically small welfare states: the US, Japan, and South Korea.Examining va

This book introduces a unique, new dataset on welfare state reforms in the UK, Denmark, Finland, France and Germany from 1974 to 2014. Using a variety of welfare state types in Europe, the authors hav

The welfare state has been under attack for decades, but now more than ever there is a need for strong social programs—the best tools we have to combat inequality, support social justice, and even imp

Since 1950, devolution reforms have been widespread across Western Europe, leading to constitutional transformation in Belgium, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, as well as the potential for state

The Dynamic Welfare State explains the decline of the classic welfare state and documents the emergence of a third stage in the American welfare state, evident in corporations exploiting markets in he

Why are so many American social programs delegated to private actors? And what are the consequences for efficiency, accountability, and the well-being of beneficiaries? The Delegated Welfare State exa

Written in clear, lively prose this highly respected book analyzes the evolution of the American welfare state from colonial times to present. Social welfare policy connects to an empowerment perspect

Welfare and the State

This book offers a careful examination of the politics of social policy in an era of austerity and conservative governance. Focusing on the administrations of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, Pierson provides a compelling explanation for the welfare state's durability and for the few occasions where each government was able to achieve significant cutbacks. The programmes of the modern welfare state - the 'policy legacies' of previous governments - generally proved resistant to reform. Hemmed in by the political supports that have developed around mature social programmes, conservative opponents of the welfare state were successful only when they were able to divide the supporters of social programmes, compensate those negatively affected, or hide what they were doing from potential critics. The book will appeal to those interested in the politics of neo-conservatism as well as those concerned about the development of the modern welfare state. It will attract readers in the fields o