Written in a concise and accessible style by Michael Hill, this textprovides a coherent, thematic account of social policy in the modern world. * Takes a comparative approach, considering the ways in which different countries approach social policies. * Discusses the applicability of comparative theory in social policy * Examines individual policy areas, including social security, employment policy, health services, social care and education. * Provides a comparative exploration of current issues in social policy, such as the implications of ageing societies and the impact of global forces. * Written in a concise and accessible style by Michael Hill, who is also the author of Blackwell's Understanding Social Policy, now in its seventh edition.