In this chapter we shall paint a broad picture of the expansion of the modern welfare state. After having added some flesh to the key dimensions of the modern welfare state, we shall briefly focus on the so-called Scandinavian model and its Danish variant before present­ing a limited regulation analysis of the Danish welfare state from 1957 to 1973. The somewhat static and descriptive analysis of the Danish welfare state will, finally, be complemented by a more dynamic and explanatory account of its genealogy.