Drawing on both conceptual and empirical evidence, this text presents the case for the centrality of social policy development, particularly with regard to economic policy.;Social policy in a development context / Thandika Mkandawire -- From universalism to safety nets / Peter Townsend -- Social policy and macroeconomic performance / Diane Elson -- Social policy and development / Ben Fine -- Democratization and social policy / Laurence Whitehead -- Why social policy is condemned to a residual category of safety nets and what to do about it / Judith Tendler -- Inequality and redistribution in health care / Maureen Mackintosh and Paula Tibandebage -- Models of development, social policy and reform in Latin America / Carmelo Mesa-gago -- European 'late industrializers' / Juhana Vartiainen -- 'Late industrializers' and the development of the welfare state / Chris Pierson -- The role of social policy in economic development / Ha-joon Chang -- The economic crisis and the politics of welfare reform in Korea / Huck-ju Kwon -- Social policy in Indian development / Jayati Ghosh -- Historical trajectories of social policy in post-colonial Africa / Guy Mhone.