The Routledge handbook of social care work around the world

Many scholars and practitioners in adult social care may not fully appreciate the field's extensive scholarship. *The Routledge handbook of social care work around the world* provides a comprehensive overview of modern care systems globally. The handbook addresses key themes of social sustainability, marketization, and care structures. Mary Daly of Oxford outlined four key developments in care scholarship: feminist care ethics and Marxist theory, care regimes in post-industrial societies, intervention measurement, and global care economics.

With contributions from over 30 international authors, the handbook examines care systems across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The authors highlight how different regions balance market, state, family, and community roles in care provision. Notable patterns emerge: Nordic countries show declining state involvement, Western nations trend toward marketization, while Asian and Eastern European systems blend market approaches with traditional family-based care. Migration emerges as a critical theme, with migrant workers often filling essential but undervalued care roles. The handbook raises important questions about the sustainability and ethics of care systems dependent on migrant labor, particularly regarding worker conditions and market competition. These insights offer valuable perspective on the challenge of creating quality care jobs.