Abstract
Some questions are raised regarding the future of the welfare state. For example: How are fundamental socio-political constellations affected by the pronounced, relative decline of labour force participants and corresponding significant welfare expansion? Changes in the top echelons of social structure, as well as the ‘bottom’ end of it, are discussed. The existence of welfare backlash sentiments in a Scandinavian welfare state (Norway) is indicated. Various counter-strategies to save the welfare state are presented. The final section focuses on the stamina of political systems. The main elements of Wilensky's model, and some of his results, are presented and criticized.
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