"... an original, interesting and informed exposition on the issues of retirement." Ageing & Society "... highly readable. A significant achievement given the complexity of the subject matter, i.e. pensions, and the breadth of the theoretical perspectives that are examined." Journal of Social Policy "In the current ideological climate of 'apocalyptic demography', in which public welfare is portrayed as inferior to private, this book provides a lively review of the ideological contests surrounding retirement and pension policies. The social division of welfare is examined through the lens of several theoretical approaches, including political economy, consumption theory, Foucauldrian discourse theory and risk theory. The impact of pension policies on all our lives is made abundantly clear, as are the contradictions between individualism and wider social well-being." Jay Ginn, Department of Sociology, University of Surry, UK "This is an important and insightful book which deserves to be widely consulted. Kirk Mann's ability to synthesize theory and policy issues is truly impressive. He demonstrates just how sophisticated social policy scholarship has become." James Midgley, Specht Professor of Public Social Services and Dean of the School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley