This large-scale comparative study analyses the two principal mechanisms employed in modern legal systems to deal with the social problem of occupational illness and injury, namely, employers' liability and workers' compensation. It provides a detailed description of the systems in operation in twelve countries around the world, investigating the complex legal structures and the interaction with other social institutions, as well as their inter-jurisdictional coordination through private international law. Current international trends are identified and assessed and the fundamental political issues highlighted and explored. The study's ultimate goals are not only descriptive but also to answer the question of how compensation and liability systems can best be adapted to meet society's needs in the 21st century.

The countries covered are: Australia (Mark Lunney), Austria (Ernst Karner/Felix Kernbichler), Denmark (Vibe Ulfbeck), England and Wales (Richard Lewis), France (Florence G'Sell/Isabelle Veillard), Germany (Raimund Waltermann), Italy (Alessandro P Scarso/Massimo Foglia), Japan (Keizo Yamamoto/Tomohiro Yoshimasa), the Netherlands (Siewert D Lindenbergh), Poland (Domenika Dörre-Nowak), Romania (Christian Alunaru/Lucian Bojin) and the United States of America (Michael D Green/Daniel S Murdock).

The book is completed by three concluding essays that address general themes:
Thomas Thiede, The European Coordination of Employers' Liability and Workers' Compensation,
Ken Oliphant, The Changing Landscape of Work Injury Claims: Challenges for Employers' Liability and Workers' Compensation,
Gerhard Wagner, New Perspectives on Employers' Liability - Basic Policy Issues.

Mark Lunney: Employers’ Liability and Workers’ Compensation: Australia

Ernst Karner and Felix Kernbichler: Employers’ Liability and Workers’ Compensation: Austria

Vibe Ulfbeck: Employers’ Liability and Workers’ Compensation: Denmark

Richard Lewis: Employers’ Liability and Workers’ Compensation: England and Wales

Florence G´sell and Isabelle Veillard: Employers’ Liability and Workers’ Compensation: France

Raimund Waltermann: Employers’ Liability and Workers’ Compensation: Germany

Alessandro P Scarso and Massimo Foglia: Employers’ Liability and Workers’ Compensation: Italy

Keizo Yamamoto and Tomohiro Yoshimasa: Employers’ Liability and Workers’ Compensation: Japan

Siewert D Lindenbergh: Employers’ Liability and Workers’ Compensation: The Netherlands

Dominika Dörre-Nowak: Employers’ Liability and Workers’ Compensation: Poland

Christian Alunaru and Lucian Bojin: Employers’ Liability and Workers’ Compensation: Romania

Michael D Green and Daniel S Murdock: Employers’ Liability and Workers’ Compensation: United States

Thomas Thiede: The European Coordination of Employers´ Liability and Workers´ Compensation

Ken Oliphant: The Changing Landscape of Work Injury Claims: Challenges for Employers’ Liability and Workers’ Compensation

Gerhard Wagner: New Perspectives on Employers’ Liability - Basic Polic Issues