The book presents chapters from a number of different countries and extends beyond those of a neo-liberal perspective that one might at first anticipate would appear in a book on childcare markets. The country-specific chapters are broadly speaking well located in relevant historical social policy debates and social policy theory and many have strong links to relevant research in the area. Throughout the book the chapters highlight the tensions that exist between having welfare states that stress the importance of early childhood education and care services, but rely on the market to meet policy objectives. (author abstract)