CLARE UNGERSON is Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at the University of Southampton, UK, and Honorary Professor at the University of Kent, UK. She is editor of Women and Social Policy: A Reader, co-editor of Public Policy and Social Welfare: A Comparative Overview and author of Policy is Personal: Sex, Gender and Informal Care. SUE YEANDLE is Professor of Sociology at the University of Leeds. She is co-editor of Employed Carers and Family-Friendly Employment Policies and Line Managers and Family-Friendly Employment and author of Women's Working L

• List of figures Conceptualizing Cash for Care: The Origins of Contemporary Debates; C.Ungerson & S.Yeandle Care Allowances and the Formalization of Care Arrangements: The Austrian Experience; A.Oesterle & E.Hammer Cash for Care in the French Welfare State: A Skilfull Compromise?; C.Martin & B.LeBihan The Commodification of Care: The Italian Way; C.Gori & B.Da Roit Contracting One's Family Members: The Dutch Care Allowance; M.Pijl & C.Ramakers Issues in the Development of the Direct Payments Scheme for Older People in England; S.Yeandle & B.Stiell Mixed Blessings: Long-term Care Benefits in Germany; U.Schneider & C.Reyes Consumer-direction in an 'Ownership Society': An Emerging Paradigm for Home and Community Care in the United States; S.Keigher The UK; S.Yeandle & B.Stiell Conclusion: Dilemmas, Contradictions and Change; C.Ungerson & S.Yeandle