Gathering among the best European specialists of welfare state comparisons, this book organises comprehensive and up to date information on European welfare state reforms in an analytical framework which allows a new approach to social policy changes.

• Demonstrates that, contrary to the common view, 'Bismarckian' welfare states have changed significantly
• Contains long term but also very accurate data and perspective beginning from the 1980s and up to the most recent reforms
• Speaks to two literatures: the one on welfare state, social policies and welfare state reforms; the other to the political science literature on changes, path dependency and incremental changes
• Organises comprehensive and up to date information on European welfare state reforms in an analytical framework
• Includes contributions from the best specialists of the field, including members of the European academic community of social policy comparativists

New feature

This volume systematically compares the development of all social programmes over the last three decades in Continental Europe. It demonstrates that, contrary to the common view, 'Bismarckian' welfare systems have changed significantly. Reforms have followed a similar path and the 'conservative corporatist' welfare regimes have drifted from a 'labour shedding' strategy to the adoption of the dominant social policy agenda including activation policies, new pillars in pensions, market mechanisms in health, and the development of care policies. With contributions from leading European specialists of welfare state comparisons, this book organises comprehensive and up-to-date information on European welfare state reforms in an analytical framework which allows a new approach to social policy changes.

1. Editorial Introduction: From ‘a Frozen Landscape’ to Structural Reforms: The Sequential Transformation of Bismarckian Welfare Systems (Bruno Palier and Claude Martin).

2. When Past Reforms Open New Opportunities: Comparing Old-age Insurance Reforms in Bismarckian Welfare Systems (Giuliano Bonoli and Bruno Palier).

3. Towards Neo-Bismarckian Health Care States? Comparing Health Insurance Reforms in Bismarckian Welfare Systems (Patrick Hassenteufel and Bruno Palier).

4. Continental Drift: On Unemployment Policy Change in Bismarckian Welfare States (Daniel Clegg).

5. From Subsidiarity to ‘Free Choice’: Child- and Elder-care Policy Reforms in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands (Nathalie Morel).

6. Activation as a Common Framework for Social Policies towards Lone Parents (Trudie Knijn, Claude Martin and Jane Millar).

7. Long-term Care Policies in Italy, Austria and France: Variations in Cash-for-Care Schemes (Barbara Da Roit, Blanche Le Bihan and August Österle).

8. Family Policies in Germany and France: The Role of Enterprises and Social Partners (Ute Klammer and Marie-Thérèse Letablier).

Index.