Welfare states vary across nations and change over time. And the balance between markets and government; free enterprise and social protection is perennially in question. But all developed societies have welfare states of one kind or another - they are a fundamental dimension of modern government.

And even after decades of free-market criticism and reform, their core institutions have proven resilient and popular. This Very Short Introduction describes the modern welfare state, explaining its...

This exciting seventh edition, now situated in a global context with international examples throughout, has been updated to now cover strategy and planning in the public sector; transparency, accountability and ethics; and non-profit management