The Danish Poor Relief System : An Example for England (Classic Reprint)

A close look at how Denmark reshaped poor relief, and what England could learn from it.

This study explains the system, its administration, and the cost dynamics behind a century of reform in a small but influential country.

Grounded in the introduction of new laws in the 1890s, the book traces who runs relief services, how decisions are made, and how the state and local authorities share the burden. It also examines the idea that every destitute person has a right to relief, alongside rules designed to encourage thrift and responsibility.

• How relief is organized through rural and urban authorities, with officials trained to assess need and prevent abuse.
• The principle of a universal right to support, paired with conditions to ensure prudent use of resources.
• How costs are measured and compared with other countries, including shifts after old-age relief laws.
• The potential implications for worn-out workers and other hard-to-help groups, and what this suggests for welfare policy elsewhere.

Ideal for readers of social policy history and welfare reform, who want a concrete, period-focused look at how one nation experimented with fairness, efficiency, and accountability in relief.