Using the findings from up-to-date attitude surveys in Europe East and West, the US and Australasia, this book shows that, contrary to the claims of experts and policy-makers, the welfare state is still highly popular amongst citizens.

Chapter 1 'Hollowing Out' Versus the New Interventionism, Peter Taylor-Gooby; Chapter 2 Changing Labour Markets, New Social Divisions and Welfare State Support, Jørgen Goul Andersen; Chapter 3 The Middle Class and Welfare State Retrenchment, Stefan Svallfors; Chapter 4 Who Wants to Preserve the 'Scandinavian Service State'?, Helena Blomberg, ChristianKroll; Chapter 5 Welfare State Opinions Among Citizens, MP-Candidates and Elites, Pauli Forma; Chapter 6 Progressive Taxation Farewell?, Jonas Edlund; Chapter 7 Within and Without, George Matheson, MichaelWearing; Chapter 8 Need, Citizenship or Merit, Pauli Forma, OlliKangas; Chapter 9 Egalitarianism, Perception of Conflicts and Support for Transformation in Poland, Krzysztof Zagórski; Chapter 10 And What if the State Fades Away?, Zsuzsa Ferge;

Stefan Svallfors is lecturer of sociology, Umeå University, Sweden.
Peter Taylor-Gooby is professor of social policy at the University of Kent.