Health and welfare in the 20th century The politics of state expansion in Europe and North-America

• This paper represents a very first draft on an ongoing research project. • In it present extension (some 20 000 words), it is more a has more a book chapter format than an article one. • A simplified, but complete version of the argument and the empirical evidence can be obtained by reading sections 1-2 and 7-8 only (some 8000 words in total), oriented to newcomers into welfare state research. • Sections 3 to 6 contain a more detailed, academic discussion of theories and evidence, oriented to expert readers of the welfare stare literature, or those with an special interest. Among them, section 6 contains what it constitutes probably the more original part of the argument. • Text highlighted in green needs to be changed or completed 1 The welfare state… marked an assault on fate