The history, motivations, influences and vital issues in social welfare policy and practice are examined in this book. David Macarov explains how social welfare policy originated and how it is maintained through the interaction of five motivations: mutual aid, religion, politics, economics and ideology. He discusses the major contributions to the development of social welfare from the distinguished figures of Martin Luther, Adam Smith and Charles Darwin. The book concludes with an examination of poverty and unemployment and a review of policy responses to these social problems.