The Uses of Social Investment

Vera Scpanovi, Transfer [The book] is an open, honest debate about the difficulties of reforming the welfare state to deal with new risks posed by demographic and economic changes of the 21st century, and find a path between the two worse alternatives of knee-jerk austerity and the rising spectre of welfare chauvinism

David Soskice, London School of Economics and Political Science With its beautifully symbolic cover of interrelating and multiply-coloured leaves moving dynamically over time, The Uses of Social Investment is a major publication bringing together many of the most interesting intellectuals and intellectual perspectives in the OECD academy. In Hemerijck's absorbing and massive collected volume, social investment is revealed as a deeply important (and distinct) paradigm which goes far beyond the welfare state. The book, and, as it compellingly drives home, the paradigm, is unusually and persuasively interdisciplinary, going from social policy to political science and political economy, and through law, sociology and economics. It is highly readable I found myself dipping in and out with pleasure and then getting deeply absorbed; it moves between optimistic and sceptical, practical and blue skies, and always thought-provoking.

Evelyne Huber, University of North Carolina This book provides a unique panoramic state-of-the-art view of the theoretical debates and empirical analyses of social investment policies. It brings together the leading critics and advocates who assess the scholarly evidence on a wide range of social investment experiences. Given the increasing global emphasis on social investment, the book's contribution is foundational for any discussion about the future of the welfare state.

Bernhard Ebbinghaus, University of Oxford How can today's crisis-ridden welfare states avoid past mistakes and learn to sustainably foster the well-being of future generations in ageing societies? This extraordinary compelling collection of contributions provides critical reflections that will enrich ongoing debates on social investment and offers innovative policy solutions to contemporary challenges.

Jacqueline O'Reilly, University of Sussex At this critical moment in history we are looking for new concepts to help rewrite the post-war social settlement. Is Social Investment the answer? Find out here. Hemerijck and company meet their critiques in this remarkably ambitious project. The 'go to' place to find out everything you ever wanted to know about Social Investment in one book. An impressive achievement and a valuable contribution that will inform debates for decades.

Anton Hemerijck is Professor of Political Science, European University Institute, Florence, and Centennial Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

PART 1: INTRODUCTION ; PART 2: LIMITS TO SOCIAL INVESTMENT ; PART 3: SOCIAL INVESTMENT ENDOWMENT AND EXTENSIONS ; PART 4: SOCIAL INVESTMENT ASSESSMENT: CONCEPTUALIZATION AND METHODS ; PART 5: COMPARATIVE SOCIAL INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE ; PART 6: EU SOCIAL INVESTMENT ADVOCACY ; PART 7: THE POLITICS OF SOCIAL INVESTMENT ; PART 8: CONCLUSION