The Changing Faces of Economic Insecurity

The Changing Faces of Economic Insecurity was first published in 1966.Were economic insecurities greater a half-century ago than they are today? Quantitatively, how do they compare? Qualitatively, what differences may be found? How did society meet the problems of insecurity a generation or two ago? How today?In a book that seeks to provide answers to such questions, Professor Turnbull provides a comparative study of the nature and extent of economic insecurity and the ways in which our society has sought to meet this challenge, fifty years ago and now. In his analysis he considers premature death, old age, unemployment, and accidental injury and sickness the “four horsemen” of economic insecurity. He examines society’s adjustments to these problems, the approaches used, the programs which have been developed, and the problems which remain.The analysis is carried out primarily at the microeconomic level; it deals with individuals and families and their budgets and income-maintenance problems rather than with aggregates of transfer payments and their effect on personal income.The findings of the study constitute valuable bench marks in the measurement of our social and economic progress. The book should be of particular interest to economists, sociologists, public administration officials, insurance firm personnel, and those in related business, government, or social science fields.