Routledge Social and Labour Market Policy: The Basics

Social and Labour Market Policy: The Basics is an engaging and accessible introduction to the subject, which explores the broad historical, social and economic factors which have affected the differing types of social and labour market policies found in welfare states. Drawing links between social policy and labour market policy the book explores key introductory topics including: Defining what we mean when we speak of social policy and labour market policy Historical origins including Bismarckian and Beveridgian reforms The range of social issues social policy aims to address, e.g. housing policy and child provision Showing how social policy enhances well-being Ideas and ideology and the effects of globalisation The functioning of the labour market. Social and Labour Market Policy: The Basics provides readers with an understanding of their importance to the development of contemporary society. This book is suitable for students of social policy as well as students taking a social policy module as part of a wider course within politics, social work, health care, sociology and economics. Researchers interested in the field will also benefit from reading this book. Review 'In this very concise and well-written book, Bent Greve provides a compelling introduction to the closely-related areas of social policy and labour market policy. His short book should help students, researchers, and informed readers to grasp the meaning of key concepts in these two areas."' - Daniel Béland, Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy.'At a time when social and labour market policies are under increasing scrutiny, this lively new book attempts to systematize and critically analyse what is known about these core functions of the modern welfare state. What is ‘social’ and ‘labour market policy’, how have these policies evolved, and how do they relate? How do social and labour market policies and functions differ across nations, what are their effects and what societal outcomes do they produce? Social and Labour Market Policy: The Basics is an invaluable contribution to understanding the issues and pressing challenges facing welfare systems ahead.' - Christopher Deeming, Journal of Social Policy and University of Strathclyde, UK About the Author Bent Greve is Professor in Social Science with an emphasis on welfare state analysis at the University of Roskilde, Denmark. His research interest focuses on the welfare state, and social and labour market policy, often from a comparative perspective. He has published extensively on social and labour market policy, social security, tax expenditures, public sector expenditures and financing of the welfare state. He is editor of Social Policy & Administration. Recent books include Long-Term Care for the Elderly in Europe: Development and Prospects (ed., 2017); Handbook of Social Policy Evaluation (ed., 2017); Technology and the Future of Work (2017); The Impact on Labour Markets and Welfare States (2017).