'The issue of inequality has returned to global agendas. James Midgley, the doyen of global social policy research, insists that social protection has a role to play in tackling inequality. He sets out an agenda of institutional reform that revitalizes the egalitarian claim of social protection, but stays away from simple cure-all solutions.' --Lutz Leisering, Bielefeld University, Germany 'This volume is an important and timely contribution to the scholarship and policy debates on inequality and the role of state supported social protection schemes in mitigating it. Midgely's engaging and lucid text provides an integrated and comprehensive overview of real world programmes and evidence of their redistributive impact, while retaining historical and conceptual perspectives. In contrast to much of the literature in this area, the cases presented in this text come from both the global North and South and a more pluralistic account of social protection is provided which transcends traditional western notions of insurance, income transfers and credits. The text will be accessible and relevant for a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds and an invaluable resource for all those interested in comparative social welfare.' --Rebecca Surender, University of Oxford, UK 'This book makes a critically important contribution to the literature on inequality and on social policy What the reader learns from this superb study is that careful policy design, adequate funding and effective implementation are needed to ensure that social policies are effective in promoting equality and social justice.

This work is yet another confirmation that Professor Midgley is among the most distinguished social policy scholars of our time and that social policy has a role in the establishment of societies that are more just and equitable.' --Silvia Borzutzky, Carnegie Mellon University, US.