This is a broad survey of the development of social policy from the end of the Second World War to the present day. The 'Welfare State' is often invoked as a powerful, political and social ideal; here, Howard Glennerster explores the myths that have shaped popular conceptions of social policy, and continue to dominate current debates.

Setting the emergence of the 'classic Welfare State' in its historical context, the author explores the distinct characteristics of the 1940s, a period of remarkable social change and innovation. He examines the role of Sir William Beveridge, traditionally seen as the founder of the welfare system, and assesses the contribution of Aneurin Bevan and others in developing the British forms of welfare provision.

The book assesses the various aspects of 'welfare' through the post-war decades - including education, health, social security and housing - linking the service-by-service stories to the wider political agenda of the times. Throughout, it shows that social policy could not be pursued in a vacuum: welfare provision was both expensive and politically sensitive. The successive legislative changes can only be understood through an awareness of the underlying political and economic concerns of the time.