This new edition of Wikeley, Ogus and Barendt's The Law of Social Security has been restructured to reflect the significant legislative and case law developments that have taken place since publication of the fourth edition in 1995. These include the introduction of jobseeker's allowance and tax credits along with major reforms to bereavement benefits and pensions law, as well as fundamental changes to the decision making and appeals system.

The aim of this book is to provide an overview of how economic analysis can enrich an understanding of law and can provide standards for its critical evaluation. It eschews a dogmatic approach, acknowledging that non-economic goals play an important part in the law. It is directed primarily at lawyers and law students, particularly those who hitherto have been sceptical of the uses and value of law and economics. It is not a conventional textbook in the sense that it does not deal systematically with different areas of law. Rather each chapter is built on a particular theme or set of themes,...