the new deal for young people, introduced in april 1998, has been a flagship of the labour government. this book is the first comprehensive and authoritative analysis of the new deal and examines how far the programme has succeeded in responding to the diversity of conditions in local labour markets across the uk. the book argues that profound differences in local labour market conditions have exerted a telling influence on the new deals achievements. it proposes that contemporary labour market policy should not only be based on theories and models of the national economy and of individual behaviour, but that policy design also needs to recognise the importance of the local and regional labour market contexts which shape its viability and outcomes. by situating policy in this way, the book not only examines how workfare has been put in place in the uk, but also puts place into workfare.