This volume provides an up-to-date account of developments in Europe across a range of policy areas, from labour markets to disability and poverty to health care. Drawing on sociological, social policy, political science and economic perspectives, it situates debates about welfare convergence in a theoretical context. Each chapter is written by an expert in this rapidly changing field and is based on original research. Together, these experts demonstrate that EU commitment to an open market economic programme currently gives rise to tensions in accommodating different approaches to social welfare, and that moves to enlargement will compound the pressure.

Peter Taylor-Gooby is Professor of Social Policy at the University of Kent. His recent publications include European Welfare States Under Pressure (edited, 2001), Risk, Trust and Welfare (edited, 2000) and European Welfare Futures (co-authored with V. George and G. Bonoli, Polity, 2000). He has directed a number of ESRC and EU projects, including the Economic Beliefs and Behaviour programme, the Social Contexts and Responses to Risk network and the Welfare Reform and the Management of Societal Change programme.