Rather than simply asserting that all social policies in all capitalist societies exist to maintain capitalism and serve the long-term interests of the capitalist class, PRT examines the nature and impact of social policies and the level and types of social inequality in a variety of advanced capitalist nations.

The welfare state has been under attack for decades, but now more than ever we need strong social programs to combat inequality, support social justice, and even improve economic performance. This book brings together distinguished contributors to examine global variations of social programs and make the case for a redesigned welfare state.