The Welfare State in the European Union: Economic and Social Perspectives

This book provides a balanced and rigorous account of the current functioning and performance of the welfare state in Europe. Its main feature is a basic trust in the various missions of the welfare state, particularly poverty alleviation. Accordingly, in an attempt at comparing different welfare states across the European Union, it uses the methodology of public economics to deal with the trade-off between equity and efficiency. It also offers some thoughts regarding the prospects for success of the welfare state.