This book proposes a unified typology of capitalisms by integrating two dominant frameworks: Varieties of Capitalism and welfare state research. The author, Martin Schro, draws on a large dataset of empirical indicators to demonstrate how liberal market economies align with liberal welfare states, and how coordinated market economies align with either conservative or social democratic welfare states. The core argument is that production systems and welfare arrangements are forged by similar historical and cultural policy styles, leading to coherent logics within families of countries. This unified approach distinguishes 'liberal', 'social democratically coordinated', and 'conservatively coordinated capitalism', asserting that these aspects cannot be studied in isolation.

The book is positioned as a significant contribution to the study of comparative political economy, aiming to bridge the gap between two major theoretical frameworks. By empirically demonstrating the coherence between economic coordination and welfare state arrangements, it offers a more integrated understanding of national economic systems. The unified typology is presented as a tool for explaining not only current structures but also the dynamics of economic liberalization across different capitalist models. This work is likely to be of interest to scholars and students of comparative politics, economics, and sociology.