Traiettorie del welfare state in Gran Bretagna

The British experience of Welfare State is very significant, even taking into account that the first laws on the poor were introduced a long time ago (namely, in the fourteenth century). Subsequently, social policies were affected mainly by the different ideologies professed by the Conservatives, on the one hand, and, on the other side, by the Labour Party. In this essay, some relevant sectors of the Welfare State are discussed, in particular social assistance to nonemployed (in the framework of so-called active labor market policies), the pension system, support for the family and the reforms of the National Health Service. In conclusion, some trends are highlighted, also in view of the reforms announced (and partially initiated) by the current government led by David Cameron.