Like others in the 'Historical Dictionary' series, this volume offers brief A-Z entries on prominent people, events, policies, and other core concepts necessary for analysis of its topic. This third edition includes several new and expanded entries, and a new appendix of related websites that will be especially convenient for those who seek current data. Greve opens with a chronology of the development of the welfare state, beginning in Greece in the sixth century BCE and proceeding through major developments in welfare societies around the globe. The introduction provides an overview of the broad topic of the welfare state and contextualizes the dictionary entries that follow. The bulk of the book is, of course, the dictionary, comprising 400-plus short, clear, cross-referenced entries. Appendixes offer convenient charts of relevant statistics (e.g., 'Public Sector Spending on Social Protection as Percentage of GDP'). The detailed bibliography, organized by major theme, will be useful to researchers wanting to explore topics in more depth. This book is a valuable reference for students of economics, public policy, and related fields. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general readers.

Choice Reviews

Part of the series, Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements, this 3d edition contains many new and updated A-Z entries on countries, policies, institutions, important people, and other concepts necessary for an internationally based analysis. Advanced countries continue to be covered in greater detail than newer welfare states, but there is more discussion of the latter, including Third World efforts. Entries are cross-referenced and range from about 2 pages, with “welfare state” discussed in 4 pages. The author’s 11-page introduction provides past and current context to the more than 400 entries. An updated chronology starts in sixth-century B.C.E., when Greece began social assistance to soldiers, and goes to 2013, when Croatia joined the European Union. Also included are 11 statistical tables on issues like government spending, employment rates, and indicators of well being, which back up the content, and an extensive, wide-ranging bibliography on 32 topics that includes books, articles, and Websites. . . [T]his offers a short but truly historical, balanced, and integrated view of its topic. This work is recommended for public and academic libraries.

American Reference Books Annual