The nature of the relationship between children, parents and the state has been central to the growth of the modern welfare state and has long been a problem for western liberal democracies. Welfare states have undergone profound restructuring over the past two decades and families also have changed, in terms of their form and the nature of the contributions that men and women make to them. More attention is being paid to children by policymakers, but often because of their importance as future 'citizen workers'. The book explores the implications of changes to the welfare state for children in a range of countries." Children, Changing Families and Welfare States": examines the implications of social policies for children; sets the discussion in the broader context of both family change and welfare state change, exploring the nature of the policy debate that has allowed the welfare of the child to come to the fore; tackles policies to do with both the care and financial support of children; looks at the household level and how children fare when both adult men and women must seek to combine paid and unpaid work, and what support is offered by welfare states; and, endeavors to provide a comparative perspective on these issues. The contributors have written a book that will be warmly welcomed by scholars and researchers of social policy, social work and sociology and students at both the advanced undergraduate and post-graduate level.

Children as a social investment -- Paying for children -- Caring for children -- Children and the search for a work-life balance.