ABSTRACT
In this chapter the reader will gain an understanding of:
the main categories of welfare states from an international perspective
recent transitions in the welfare state in different countries and how this has affected health and social care markets
recent developments in health and social care markets in Britain since the change of power to the Labour Government in 1997
definitions of ‘need’ for health and social care and how this affects the demand for market research
how social research and market research are related
how market research has been applied throughout the public sector in Britain.
