Description:A comprehensive analysis of the reasons for growth in the number of welfare recipients in Britain covering the period from 1971 to the present day. It focuses on four principle groups of benefit recipients -children and families, retirement pensioners, disabled people and unemployed people and children - and explores the relative importance of economic, demographic, institutional and normative factors in the pattern of growth. The book also provides an account of social and policy developments in Britain in the last third of the 20th century and a synopsis account of the main socio-economic and political developments. A glossary of technical terms is included.