The student's companion to social policy / edited by Pete Alcock, Angus Erskine and Margaret May.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contributors. Preface. Acknowledgements. Introduction. Part I: What Is Social Policy? The Subject of Social Policy: Pete Alcock (University of Birmingham). The Approaches and Methods of Social Policy: Angus Erskine (University of Stirling). The Role of Comparative Study: Margaret May (London Metropolitan University). History and Social Policy: David Gladstone (University of Bristol). Part II: Values and Perspectives: 1. Key Concepts: Social Needs, Social Problems and Social Welfare : Nick Manning (University of Nottingham). Equality, Rights and Social Justice : Peter Taylor-Gooby (University of Kent). Efficiency, Equity and Choice: Carol Propper (University of Bristol). Altruism, Reciprocity and Obligation: Hilary Land (University of Bristol). Divisions, Difference and Exclusion: Pete Alcock and Angus Erskine (University of Birmingham; University of Stirling). 2. Key Perspectives: The Neo-liberal Perspective: David G. Green (The Institute for the Study of Civil Society). The Conservative Tradition of Social Welfare: Robert Pinker (London School of Economics). The Social Democratic Perspective: Michael Sullivan (University of South Wales, Swansea). The Socialist Perspective: Norman Ginsburg (London Metropolitan University). The Third Way: Martin Powell (University of Bath). Feminist Perspectives: Jane Lewis (University of Oxford). 'Race' and Social Welfare: Waqar Ahmad and Gary Craig (University of Leeds; University of Hull). The Green Perspective: Michael Cahill (University of Brighton). Postmodernism and New Directions: Tony Fitzpatrick (University of Nottingham). 3. The Social Policy Context: Social Policy and Economic Policy: Ian Gough (University of Bath). Social Policy: Culture and Nationhood: Fiona Williams (University of Leeds). Social Policy and Family Policy: Jane Millar (University of Bath). Social Policy and Globalization: Rob Sykes (Sheffield Hallam University). Social Policy and the Political Process: Michael Hill (University of Newcastle). Part III: The Production, Organization and Consumption of Welfare: 4. The Production of Welfare: State Welfare: Norman Johnson (University of Portsmouth). Private Welfare: Edward Brunsdon (London Metropolitan University). The Voluntary Sector: Nicholas Deakin (London School of Economics). Informal Welfare: Clare Ungerson (University of Southampton). 5. The Organization of Welfare: Managing and Delivering Welfare: John Clarke (Open University). The Governance of Local Welfare: Allan Cochrane (Open University). Social Policy within the United Kingdom: Richard Parry (University of Edinburgh). Social Policy and the European Union: Linda Hantrais (Loughborough University). Supranational Agencies and Social Policy: Bob Deacon (University of Sheffield). 6. The Consumption of Welfare: Paying for Welfare: Howard Glennerster (London School of Economics). Principles of Welfare: Ruth Lister (Loughborough University). The Distribution of Welfare: John Hills (London School of Economics). Accountability for Welfare: Janet Newman (Open University). Part IV: Issues in Social Policy: 7. Social Policy and Particular Groups: Children: Malcolm Hill (University of Glasgow). Young People: Bob Coles (University of York). Older People: Alan Walker and Tony Maltby ((University of Birmingham; University of Sheffield). Disabled People: Mike Oliver (University of Greenwich). Lone Parents: Jonathan Bradshaw (University of York). Migrants: Gail Lewis (Open University). 8. Service-based Issues: Income Protection and Social Security: Stephen McKay and Karen Rowlingson (University of Bristol; University of Bath). Employment: Alan Deacon (University of Leeds). Health Care: Judith Allsop (De Monfort University). Education: Miriam David (Keele University). Housing: Alan Murie ((University of Birmingham). Personal Social Services and Community Care: John Baldock (University of Kent at Canterbury). Criminal Justice: Dee Cook (University of Wolverhampton). Part V: Resources: 9. Studying Social Policy: Doing Projects in Social Policy: Hartley Dean (University of Nottingham). Fieldwork Placements and the Social Policy Curriculum: Duncan Scott (University of Manchester). 10. Learning Resources: A Guide to the Literature: Robert M. Page (University of Birmingham). Data Sources in the UK: National, Central and Local Government: Fran Wasoff. Other Sources of UK Data: Fran Bennett (University of Oxford). European and International Data Sources: Deborah Mabbett (Brunel University). The Internet and Web-based Sources: Melanie Ashford and Pat Young (Learning and Teaching Support Network; University of the West of England). Part VI: Careers in Social Policy: Careers and Postgraduate Study in Social Policy: Margaret May and Catherine Bochel (London Metropolitan University; University of Lincoln). Appendix: the Social Policy Association (SPA). Name Index. Subject Index.

This companion sets out to: introduce students to the scope and structure of the subject - and its (inter)relationship with other disciplines and provide readers with a guide to the theoretical and ideological study of social policy.