This is the fourth edition of this statistical pocketbook on living conditions in Europe which contains a comparable set of social statistics and indicators describing the current social situation in the original 15 EU member states (as well as in the EFTA countries where information is available). Each of the 10 chapters focus on an area of social policy, giving a range of policy-relevant indicators and descriptive data in tables and charts accompanied by a short commentary. Chapters cover: population, households and families, education and training, the labour market, earnings, income, poverty and social exclusion, social welfare, consumption and housing, health and safety, and social participation.

This is the fourth edition of this statistical pocketbook on living conditions in Europe which contains a comparable set of social statistics and indicators describing the current social situation in the original 15 EU member states (as well as in the EFTA countries where information is available). Each of the 10 chapters focus on an area of social policy, giving a range of policy-relevant indicators and descriptive data in tables and charts accompanied by a short commentary. Chapters cover: population, households and families, education and training, the labour market, earnings, income, poverty and social exclusion, social welfare, consumption and housing, health and safety, and social participation.

Information is key in any effort to promote cohesion in Europe. Seeking to address gaps in existing knowledge, the Foundation launched its European Quality of Life Survey in 2003. The first results of this ambitious attempt to explore quality of life issues in 28 countries--the EU25 and three candidate countries, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey--provide a comprehensive portrait of the face of an enlarged Europe. A resume on this topic is also available (EF0495).

All countries aim to improve housing conditions for their citizens but many have been forced by the financial crisis to reduce government expenditure. Social housing is at the crux of this tension. Policy-makers, practitioners and academics want to know how other systems work and are looking for something written in clear English, where there is a depth of understanding of the literature in other languages and direct contributions from country experts across the continent. Social Housing in Europe combines a comparative overview of European social housing written by scholars with in-depth chapters written by international housing experts. The countries covered include Austria, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, The Netherlands and Sweden, with a further chapter devoted to CEE countries other than Hungary. The book provides an up-to-date international comparison of social housing policy and practice. It offers an analysis of how the social housing system currently works in each country, supported by relevant statistics. It identifies European trends in the sector, and opportunities for innovation and improvement. These country-specific chapters are accompanied by topical thematic chapters dealing with subjects such as the role of social housing in urban regeneration, the privatisation of social housing, financing models, and the impact of European Union state aid regulations on the definitions and financing of social housing.

This book is about the incomes and living standards of the people of Europe. It treats employment, income inequality and poverty, housing, health, education, deprivation and social exclusion. The reader will learn about many of the social issues confronting Europe. How much income poverty is there in Europe? Is inequality increasing? Does a job guarantee escape from income poverty? How is Europe's welfare state coping with the economic crisis? The book is a timely contribution to the Europe 2020 Agenda as it explores the new landscape of EU targets' and the implications for monitoring at EU and national levels.