An Economic History of the Spanish Welfare State: The Political Economy of Social Policy from the Mid-19th Century to the Present

This monograph analyses the evolution of the welfare state in Spain from qualitative and quantitative perspectives. It basically relies on estimates of public social spending from 1850 to the present and offers comparisons with the rest of Europe.

As a whole, the volume sheds light on the historical, political, and economic conditions at play during the relatively late development of the Spanish welfare state. Three key driving factors are explored: the political regime, social inequality, a...