Reforming the Welfare State

I. The Present Malaise.- The Past Rise of Social Security: Historical Trends and Patterns.- Moral Hazard in the Welfare State.- Comment on Lars Söderström "Moral Hazard in the Welfare State".- II. The Welfare State at a Crossroad: Fundamental Choices.- Pros and Cons of a Negative Income Tax.- Comment on Hans-Georg Petersen "Pros and Cons of a Negative Income Tax,".- The Future Scope for Self-Reliance and Private Insurance.- Comment on Alan Peacock "The Future Scope for Self-Reliance and Private Insurance,".- III. Reform Issues of Specific Welfare Systems.- The Swedish Model: Past, Present, and Future.- Reforming the Welfare State: The German Case.- Comment on Norbert Berthold and Rainer Fehn "Reforming the Welfare State: The German Case,".- The Worm at the Root: An Exploration of the British Welfare Case.- IV. Reform Issues in Specific Areas of the Welfare State.- Old-Age Pension Systems: A Theoretical Evaluation.- International Reforms of Health Care Systems: Quasi Markets, Privatization, and Managed Care.- Comment on Richard Scheffler "International Reforms of Health Care Systems: Quasi Markets, Privatization, and Managed Care,".- Unemployment Compensation: Theory and Practice.- From Welfare State to Social State: Individual Responsibility and Compassion.- V. Explaining Private Giving.- On the Transfer Value of Gratitude.- About the Authors.

The welfare state has come under increasing pressure. This raises numerous questions with regard to how to reform it. At an international conference held in Prague, the Czech Republic, a group of experts discussed some important reform issues. Their analyses and proposals are presented in the volume's four parts (and a supplement).