Few discussions in modern social science have occupied as much attention as thechanging nature of welfare states in Western societies. Gosta EspingAndersenone o... » 

Few discussions in modern social science have occupied as much attention as thechanging nature of welfare states in Western societies. Gosta EspingAndersenone of the foremost contributors to current debates on this issue hereprovides a new analysis of the character and role of welfare states in thefunctioning of contemporary advanced Western societies. EspingAndersendistinguishes three major types of welfare state connecting these withvariations in the historical development of different Western countries. Heargues that current economic processes such as those moving toward apostindustrial order are shaped not by autonomous market forces but by thenature of states and state differences. Fully informed by comparativematerials this book will have great appeal to all those working on issues ofeconomic development and postindustrialism. Its audience will include studentsof sociology economics and politics. «