Social Policy in Capitalist History

‘Most social theorists and economists would agree that government programs to help the poor, the sick, the unemployed, and the old are part and parcel of a capitalist economy. Any workable form of capitalism requires society to be sheltered from the extreme risks it would otherwise be exposed to from unregulated markets. But as Ayşe Buğra’s fascinating book shows, the specific form that social policy should take under capitalism is unclear and has long been contested. Buğra provides a thorough and incisive account of the intellectual history of social policy, from the 16th century to our post-pandemic economy.’
– Dani Rodrik, Harvard University, US