This collection of essays investigates the complex relationship between economic incentives and the efficacy of social planning within the sectors of health, education, and welfare. Editors Bruno Stein and S. M. Miller compile research from various contributors to analyze how policy structures influence individual and institutional behavior. The work argues that social programs often fail to achieve their objectives due to misaligned incentives, proposing a more rigorous framework for evaluating the outcomes of public intervention. By examining the intersection of fiscal policy and social service delivery, the authors provide a critical assessment of the mechanisms governing the modern welfare state.

Experts recognize this volume as a significant contribution to the discourse on social welfare economics during the mid-to-late 20th century. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational reference for students and practitioners of public policy.