The author reviews the beginnings of the welfare state and its practices so far and examines what conclusions can be drawn from experince as regards the effective treatment of current problems, what warnings the relationship between certain governments and social welfare has for us today when there is an economically and socially urging need for reducing the worsening tensions in the systems of budget-planning, taxation, social welfare, health care and education, etc. The conclusion is that a fundamentaé change in attitude, and a new kind of governmental role are needed, along with new institutions, methods and means appropriate for the radically different economic circumstances as well as the realistic social demands.