This book investigates the persistent gap between the stated political consensus on reducing social and economic inequality in Europe and the practical realities of policy implementation. The authors, a team of established scholars in public policy and territorial politics, utilize a comparative framework to examine how different European states and the European Union approach the complexities of inequality. They argue that the contestation of policy goals and the influence of territorial governance structures often hinder effective intervention, despite widespread agreement that inequality is a significant societal problem.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of European policy-making and the challenges of multi-level governance. Readers frequently note the academic rigor of the analysis and its utility for understanding the structural barriers to policy reform in contemporary Europe.