'This book presents a comprehensive stock taking exercise of welfare state developments over the last two decades. It shows that, contrary to widespread perceptions and analyses that emphasize austerity and retrenchment, welfare spending has continued to increase. It provides further validation of the notion that welfare states are an indispensable component of modern political economies.' --Giuliano Bonoli, University of Lausanne, Switzerland 'The concept of austerity has been a dominant one in political and public policy discourse since the Great Recession of 2008. In social policy the ''era of austerity'' dates back even longer, to at least the turn of the millennium. Yet, the term is often ill-defined and its application is sometimes more assumed than measured and analysed. In this rigorously researched book Bent Greve develops a clear framework for investigating what ''austerity'' has actually meant for EU welfare states. When has it, and when has it not, been implemented? Greve paints on a broad comparative canvas, but draws a complex picture.

This book provides a fresh, and needed, insight. It should be read by all with an interest in the recent history and possible futures of European welfare states.' --Alex Waddan, University of Leicester, UK.