Towards the Good Society, Once Again?

Abstract

Leading scholars in the field examine the highly topical issue of the future of the welfare state in Europe. They argue that welfare states need to adjust, and examine which kind of welfare architecture will further Europe's stated goal of maximum social inclusion and justice. The volume concentrates on four principal social‐policy domains: the aged and transition to retirement; the welfare issues related to profound changes in working life; the new risks and needs that arise in households and, especially, in families with children; and the challenges of creating gender equality. The analysis strongly supports the idea that open coordination of social policies in the European Union, if applied judiciously, can contribute significantly to the achievement of social justice for Europe's citizens.