Despite significant improvements in population health, many welfare states have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of people receiving long-term sickness and disability or incapacity benefits over the past two decades. This paradox has become one of the most pressing and yet intractable problems facing the welfare state.

Attempts to stem the rising tide of disability benefit recipients have generally had only limited or temporary success. Meanwhile, many welfare states have experienced an increase in disability benefit claims from women, younger workers, and people suffering from mental illness.

Sick societies? explores these trends in disability benefits. It looks at the factors driving the increases in benefit recipients and examines the success of government attempts to tackle the problem. As well as documenting developments in six advanced welfare states, the book includes chapters that compare experiences and draw more general lessons about the problem of long-term sickness and disability benefits in post-industrial societies.

The book is essential reading for policy-makers and researchers concerned with social security and social policy more generally.

ISBN 92-843-1174-8, 241 pp.

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