The Welfare State
Its Aims, Benefits and Costs
Routledge Library Editions: Welfare and the State Series

Originally published in 1973, The WelfareState traces the historical roots of the Welfare State and considers the problems to which it gives rise, especially in the allocation of resources. It focuses on the economic issue of meeting needs with scarce resources and compares the British experience with that of other countries. It sets out the pattern of the social services since Beveridge and summarises the criticisms levelled at them. It considers the economic issues involved and provides a straightforward presentation of the available policy choices, the discussion poses a direct comparison with other countries. The book offers an overall conspectus of current policy issues against the historical background from which they arise.

1. What is the Welfare State? 2. The Origins of the Modern Welfare State 3. Development of the Social Services, 1900-1948 4. The ‘Beveridge Revolution’ 5. General Description of the Post-1945 Welfare State 6. The Limitations of the British Welfare State 7. The Economics of the Welfare State 8. International Comparions 9. The Future of the Welfare State Bibliography Index