The welfare state has long been under debate. Besides various theoretical discussions, it has often been empirically investigated regarding its effects on inequality and economic growth. With the advent of the scientific field of happiness research, scholars began to discuss the welfare state's...

"While we were writing this book, one of the authors fell ill. The diagnosis required two CAT scans, two MRIs, consultation with an oto-neurologist, an otolaryngologist, and an audiologist, while the treatment required a week in the hospital, a total of 15 hours of surgery carried out by a team...