’In a context of fiscal crises and the increasing importance of social services, this book makes a valuable contribution to our knowledge of these services. The book’s topicality is enhanced by its innovative approach, which integrates the study of financing social services, the private/public mix in service provision and patterns of employment in social services.’ Rik van Berkel, Utrecht University, The Netherlands ’The provision of the right to service for citizens is a central component of modernizing the welfare state. This comparative and empirically-grounded insight into financing and governance of social services, on the one hand, and employment in social services, on the other, is a most welcome contribution to the present discussion.’ Irene Dingeldey, University of Bremen, Germany