ABSTRACT
This chapter points out the importance of different fields of social policy making that, in a combined manner, can lead to comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge and understanding of all different kinds of welfare state systems with all the diverse policy and system options in place. It is like a dance for three people—a pas de trois—sometimes one is dancing, sometimes two of them together, one supporting the other, and there are times all three of them dance hand in hand. This chapter reveals that the three different types of theories are designed to do very different things, and yet they are all needed when it comes to fully understanding the options in welfare state system provision and financing, as well as the provision and financing of all of its major system parts and the options that have been left on the table, but would go a much longer way to securing the future and current well-being (not only in terms of their finances) of the people, the government and the economy.
