Not a wasteful and careless distribution, but a thoughtful and careful economy is the nurturing mother of commendable beneficence and generosity. When the Almsgiving Chamber addressed the local governors of the Bernese region with these admonishing words in the mid-18th century, it had already behind it 80 years of intensive efforts to organize and ensure a regulated welfare system throughout the territory of Bern. Established in 1672 as one of the first administrative chambers of the Bernese state based on cameralist principles, it aimed to encourage municipalities to introduce a regular, documented, and tax-supported welfare system through a sophisticated incentive policy. The Almsgiving Chamber sought to achieve this by granting state assistance only to those needy households whose home municipality fulfilled the legally mandated obligation of support. Erika Flückiger's work illustrates how, in the 18th century, a regulated welfare system began to take hold at the municipal level despite the authorities' efforts. The number of needy households requiring state support multiplied across the Bernese territory. Particularly after the supply crisis of 1770/71, the significant increase in demand for assistance heralded the emergence of a new clientele, the 'Labouring Poor,' initiating a development that culminated in the pauperism of the 19th century. In light of the growing burden of social expenditures on the state budget, the Bernese authorities increasingly faced the dilemma between welfare and state economy.