Includes index

The purpose of this book is to analyse one of the most pressing social problems of recent years, namely exclusion. The authors bring a richness of perspective, drawing on the experiences of eight European countries and a range of disciplines from law and economics through to social policy and political studies. The EU is a special case worthy of study as it may be that the process of integration actually generates both problems and solutions to social exclusion.
The authors focus on what can be achieved by European countries working together and pooling experiences. They show that not only is social exclusion ill-defined but that there are many differing concepts of social exclusion across Europe reflected in health, education, housing and employment. The book reveals the need for a strong dynamic element in policy, producing early and focused action for individuals and groups in society. While rejecting the need for transfers of income between countries, Social Exclusion and European Policy discusses whether there is something extra to be done at the EU level that cannot currently be carried out by member states or through existing co-operation.