This is the first text to focus on how capitalism and the market economy have contributed to social problems and influenced social policies. It illuminates the root causes of common social problems and the policies that attempt to improve them, while exploring how social policies in the United States can be transformed to promote social justice for all groups. It uniquely offers a historical analysis of social problems and policies. Key Features Goes beyond the U.S. borders to examine the impact of globalization in the United States and in the Global South Considers the meaning and impact of the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States and explores the policy solutions his administration has proposed to deal with the economic recession of 2008'2009 Discusses social workers as agents of social change and advocates of social and economic justice Examines five key realms: poverty in families and the welfare system, social security and poverty among the elderly, child maltreatment and welfare policy, health and mental health policy, and housing policy.This text comes with free access to the accompanying Student Study Site, which contains: Web quizzes Flashcards Journal articles Web resourcesSocial Policy and Social Change is ideal for upper-level undergraduate or graduate-level courses on social policy and social welfare.