ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores, from a comparative perspective, the evolution of the Spanish welfare state since Spain's transition to democracy in 1975. It deals with broad issues and trends in the evolution of the Spanish welfare state. It also deals with the assessment of key challenges for the Spanish welfare state. The book discusses governance issues, such as collective bargaining, levels of government, the welfare mix and public support for social policies. Nowadays, the Spanish welfare state counts on a highly redistributive system of retirement pensions, a non-contributory invalidity and retirement system and a private tier. Health care and compulsory education are of a universal social-democratic character. On the one hand, there is a new dialectic between public and private regulations competing for the same areas of influence and configuration of social policies.
