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Social security is a major institution of all industrialized societies. Its purpose is to protect the population from serious health and financial risk. to achieve this goal, social security law regulates the relations between enterprises and other economic entities on the one hand, and families and individuals on the other. This regulation is typically accomplished through a complex network of public and private institutions operating under national law. This set in the International Encyclopaedia of Laws provides in-depth information and guidance on the social security schemes in different countries. The legal mechanics of the following areas of social protection are covered in each monograph: health care; employment injuries and occupational diseases; sickness benefits (incapacity to work); pensions (invalidity, old age, survivors); unemployment (provision of work, benefits); family benefits. Each national monograph follows a similar outline, so the often significant differences between national social security systems are clearly delineated. Each essay describes the field of application, the conditions for entitlement, the calculation of benefits, the financing, and the institutional framework. Law enforcement, controls, and appeals receive special attention. A group of international monographs explains the role of international organizations in setting norms for social security systems, and in coordinating existing systems in cases involving migrant workers and others to whom more than one national scheme may apply. An international social security law Codex provides the main international texts, in English, that regulate social security in the industrialized nations. A volume of case law, currently containing English texts of relevant cases from the Court of Justice of the EC, will when completed include important jurisprudence of various international courts, with introductory notes. For each country or organization covered the