Author Description

Social policy reform has become one of the top priorities for governments in both North America and Europe. Demographic, technological, labour market and social changes are reshaping Canadian society to such an extent that the welfare state, which has largely defined what it means to be "Canadian" in the past, is now generally considered to be unsustainable in the long term. Financial constraints as well as concern over the effectiveness of certain policies are prompting a re-examination of government programs aimed at assisting the disadvantaged in society. This volume, comprised of papers given at a roundtable held by IRPP, presents a variety of perspectives on the problems and potential solutions for reform in one of the most challenging areas of social policy, namely income security programs for the employable unemployed. Academics and policy makers from Canada as well as the United States and Sweden review the theoretical and practical issues that surround the role governments play in enhancing the self-sufficiency and well-being of the most needy in society.