Introduction : from social problems to social policies -- The social worldview of medieval Christianity as prologue -- Secular transitions and assumptions -- Marx, Durkheim, and the limits of laissez-faire capitalism -- From theory to ideology -- Origins of social policy in Europe and the United...

Welfare states and welfare attitudes / Stefan Svallfors -- Welfare performance and welfare support / Wim van Oorschot and Bart Meuleman -- Attitudes among high-risk groups / Helena Blomberg, Johanna Kallio, Olli Kangas, Christian Kroll, and Mikko Niemelä -- A normative approach to welfare...