Handbook of Social Infrastructure

This timely Handbook showcases cutting-edge empirical and theoretical social science research to shed light on the role, aims and functioning of social infrastructure (SI). Leading scholars present unique insights on topics such as healthcare, childcare, education, employment, and SI for marginalised groups alongside cultural and recreational infrastructures.

Ongoing global and regional crises have underscored the significance of SI services and facilities in enhancing individual well-being, social cohesion and equality. With this central tenet in mind, contributing authors challenge traditional views on public welfare systems throughout the Handbook to take into account the climate, care and housing crises. They provide an in-depth examination of the concept of SI and how it relates to different strands of research such as welfare state analysis and urbanism, connecting the field with other emerging strands of conceptualising socio-economic processes such as the foundational economy approach.

Paving the way for further research, the Handbook of Social Infrastructure is a vital resource for students and scholars of sociology, regional and urban economics, cities, urban planning and geography, and public sector economics and finance. Policymakers will find it equally beneficial to inform their understanding of spatial planning, economic and social policies.