Book Review: Handbook of Migration and Welfare by Crepaz, Markus M.L. (ed.)

Abstract

care crisis and gender equality, which the authors define and present extremely clearly. For example, they explain the difference between the concepts of neoliberalism and New Public Management (NPM), which is rarely clarified in the literature. While neoliberalism takes a holistic view of the state and its effects on the economy and civil society, NPM focuses on various reforms and on how, for example, efficiency can be increased. In the neoliberal care model, the caring services are outsourced to the market and organised in accordance with market values. Both management and ‘technological fixes’ are described as solutions to different problems in care. An important conclusion in the book is that the care crisis in the Nordic countries exists and has been implemented through neoliberal reforms. Another conclusion is that care professionals experience disrespect and suffer from lack of recognition in society. The authors suggest further research in the area so that the care crisis can be resolved. They suggest that more comparative research is needed, to pinpoint both similarities and differences between the Nordic countries but also between other welfare states. They also suggest more research concerning welfare state sustainability and the relationship with both care and social reproduction. The researchers in the book take different intersectional perspectives involving gender, ethnicity and social class. However, the intersectional perspectives have not been applied systematically in all sections. Moreover, the book lacks the perspective of people with various disabilities in the Nordic care crisis. Persons with disabilities find it more difficult than others to get a job on the regular labour market, while young people with disabilities often retire early. This raises several urgent questions for further social policy research. The book could also have contained a special chapter with discussion questions. It would have been good to collect together all the questions arising in the separate chapters into one section. The book combines empirical research, theoretical perspectives, reflections and experiences. It can be read not only by researchers but also by students on various courses. But in order to be able to look ahead, it is important to have historical knowledge and awareness of, for example, the development of feminism, neoliberalism and welfare policy. This book has created a good basis for continued conversations and further research in the field. It is highly recommended for those readers who wish to discover more about the care crisis and care work in different welfare regimes.