Karen Rowlingson

This book makes a major contribution to our understanding of 21st century families in Britain through an exploration of intergenerational relationships. Drawing on new and extensive quantitative and qualitative research, the authors explore the giving and receiving of financial gifts. Despite growing concern about intergenerational tension and even possible conflict, the book finds evidence of a significant degree of intergenerational solidarity both within families at the micro level and between generations more generally within society at the macro level in Britain. However, given substantial inequalities within different generations as a result, in particular, of social class divisions, some families are able to support each other far more than others. This means that strong intergenerational solidarity may lead to the entrenchment of existing intragenerational inequalities. The book will be of interest to scholars and students researching Sociology, Social Policy, Family Sociology, Generations and Intergenerational Relationships.

This book makes a major contribution to our understanding of 21st century families in Britain through an exploration of intergenerational relationships. Drawing on new and extensive quantitative and qualitative research, the authors explore the giving and receiving of financial gifts. Despite growing concern about intergenerational tension and even possible conflict, the book finds evidence of a significant degree of intergenerational solidarity both within families at the micro level and between generations more generally within society at the macro level in Britain. However, given substantial inequalities within different generations as a result, in particular, of social class divisions, some families are able to support each other far more than others. This means that strong intergenerational solidarity may lead to the entrenchment of existing intragenerational inequalities. The book will be of interest to scholars and students researching Sociology, Social Policy, Family Sociology, Generations and Intergenerational Relationships.

Appropriate as supplemental reading for courses in Social Policy and Social Studies that examine the role of parenting in society. The subject of lone mothers is a controversial and highly topical social and political issue. This unique core text examines the key issues in the debate, and assesses their impact on the UK and other countries in a comprehensive and accessible way. Broad in scope, it covers a wide range of issues including gender roles, the relationship of the family and the state, and the relationship between social policy and labour market policy.

Wealth and the wealthy have received relatively little attention from social scientists despite a growing wealth gap. Aimed at a broad social science and public readership, this book draws on new data on wealth to answer the following key questions: What is wealth? Who has got it? Where might we draw a 'wealth line'? Who lies above it? And what might policy do about wealth and the wealthy? Using data sources from the HMRC to the Sunday Times Rich list, this book provides a comprehensive and critical discussion of these issues, and looks at potential policy responses, including 'asset-based' welfare and taxation.

Social Security in Britain provides a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the social security system in Britain. As well as covering the historical and comparative context, the book explains today's complex system in simple terms. Current issues, such as the policy debate around welfare reform and the effects of the social security system on individuals and families, are also discussed. Social science students, academics and professionals in many fields will find this book an invaluable guide.