This book presents a critical analysis of trends in European welfare systems and labour market policies, how and why they are changing and how they affect the daily lives of those facing unemployment or precarious work. As a contribution to debates about ‘globalisation’ and the future of work, the text will appeal to trade unionists and unemployed activists as well as to students. The book’s main themes are the shift from the idea of unemployment benefits as a right to a regime closer to American ‘workfare’; and how this policy is used to chase the unemployed into low paid, temporary or part-time jobs associated with the new ‘flexible’ labour market. Amongst other sources, the book draws on unemployed people’s own accounts of their experiences in a selection of four European countries; the UK, Germany, France and Belgium. It illustrates their view of the job market as seen from the dole queue, and how the unemployed themselves assess both benefit rules and welfare-to-work programmes. The book also examines the changing nature of work in Europe. Why is there a shortage of full-time permanent jobs? What can be done about this, and what is the future of labour market regulation in Eur