Written in a concise and accessible style by Michael Hill, this textprovides a coherent, thematic account of social policy in the modern world.

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• Takes a comparative approach, considering the ways in which different countries approach social policies.
  
• Discusses the applicability of comparative theory in social policy
  
• Examines individual policy areas, including social security, employment policy, health services, social care and education.
  
• Provides a comparative exploration of current issues in social policy, such as the implications of ageing societies and the impact of global forces.
  
• Written in a concise and accessible style by Michael Hill, who is also the author of Blackwell’s Understanding Social Policy, now in its seventh edition.