This book presents new translations of the earliest known studies in Social Policy. Juan-Luis
Vives's De Subventione Pauperum (On the Relief of the Poor) is an academic report on the
organisation of social welfare prepared for the senate of Bruges and published in 1526. Forma
Subventionis Pauperum (The government of poor relief) published in 1531 is an anonymous
evaluation report. It reviews the system of poor relief in the city of Ypres five years after
the policy was introduced. These reports lay out methods and approaches for the delivery of
social services within their cities. Unemployed people should be found work or helped to start
a business. People with disabilities or mental illness should be treated seriously and
recognised for what they can do. Migrants should be helped even if it is not possible to
assist everyone. Special efforts should be made to help people who are reluctant or too proud
to claim. Services have to be properly organised records have to be kept and the use of funds
has to be publicly accountable and subject to audit. The sophistication of the arguments
developed in these studies will surprise many readers. They deserve to be read by everyone with
an interest in social policy or public administration.
