Welfare States: Construction, Deconstruction, Reconstruction

Edited by the late Stephan Leibfried, formerly Professor of Public and Social Policy and Director, Collaborative Research Centre ‘Transformations of the State’, University of Bremen, Germany and Steffen Mau, Institute of Social Sciences, Humboldt University Berlin, Germany

In this three-volume collection Leibfried and Mau have gathered together the most vital articles about the welfare state and its ‘reformation’ written since the mid-1970s. Their choices and organizing principles bring coherence and additional insight to these articles which, together, provide a comprehensive presentation of all the key empirical, conceptual and normative issues.

‘This three-volume set collects together 63 journal articles dating from 1974 to 2005 and is an absolute must for any library, think-tank or university department serious about studying the welfare state. . . there is an excellent bibliography which will be helpful to anyone studying social policy. . . these really are splendid volumes and for some time to come they will be essential reading for anyone seriously interested in welfare states and welfare state theory.’
– Citizen’s Income

‘Welfare States: Construction, Deconstruction, Reconstruction is the single most formidable compendium of welfare state writings that exists. The three volumes span all the main disciplines and the entire range of theoretical and empirical issues of relevance. It will, no doubt, become the point of reference for teaching and research alike. Leibfried and Mau must be congratulated for an Opus Magnum that is unrivalled in comprehensiveness and quality.’
– Gøsta Esping-Andersen, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain

“一个早已wide-ranging collection of articles covering different aspects of the welfare state, different policy issues, and different analytical approaches. A must for anyone who is interested in a multidisciplinary approach to thinking about the welfare state.’
– Nicholas Barr, London School of Economics, UK

‘Leibfried and Mau have done a stunningly good job finding just the right pieces on all the important topics. . . Overall this is a truly excellent set.’
– Robert Goodin, Australian National University