"In public debate and academic writings the American and European welfare states are often portrayed as inhabiting completely different welfare regimes. However, if we take a closer look at the historical development of the European welfare state we find that American philanthropic bodies such...

Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Notes on contributors -- Gerald D. Feldman : an appreciation / Jeffrey Fear, Glasgow University -- Starting from scratch? : the beginnings of Banca Commerciale Italiana 1893-1894 / Peter Hertner, Marthin Luther University Halle Wittenberg -- Jewish financiers in...

Introduction -- Regional economic development in Europe, 1900-2010 : a description of the patterns -- Country chapte -- Austria -- Belgium -- Denmark -- Finland -- France -- Germany -- Italy -- Netherlands -- Norway -- Portugal -- Spain -- Swden -- Switzerland -- United Kingdom and Ireland --...