First published in 1999, this volume is the fifth in a series on international studies of issues in social security. The series is initiated by the Foundation for International Studies on Social Security (FISS).

1. "Inability to be self-reliant" as an indicator of U.S. Poverty, Robert H. Haveman , Andrew Bershadker. 2. Poverty Among Children and Elders in Europe and North America, Lee Rainwater. 3. The Cost and Benefits of Children, Bernard M.S, van Praag and Erik J.S. Plug. 4. Relating Inputs to Outcomes: Child Poverty and Family Transfers in Comparative Perspective, Jomnathan R. Bradshaw , Helen Barnes. 5. Framing and Reframing Social Policy Paradigms: The Case of Lone Parents, Nadine Lefaucheur , Martin Rein. 6. Work Incentivrd in Single Parent Families, Katja Forssen and Mia Harkovita. 7. Reforming Social Security: How, Why and So What? Estelle James. 8. Pension Policies for Ageing Populations; Labour Market Policies, Funded and Mixed Systems, Colin Gillion. 9. Social Security Reform and Inter-Generational Transfers: Simulation Results for Switzerland, Stefan Felder. 10. Inequality in Health Care Access and Utilization and the Potential Role for the Public Sector, Barbara L. Wolfe , David Vanness. 11. Risk Adjustment and the Equality and Efficiency of Health Care Systems, Erik Schokkaert , Carine Van de Voorde. 12. The Cost of Coercion: An Empirical. Study of the Willingness to Pay for Disability Insurance, Leo J.M Aarts , Philip R. de Jong. 13. Some Issues in Aged Care Expenditure in Australia, Ching Y. Choi