What country first began to dismantle its welfare state?

The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to begin dismantling its welfare state, particularly during the 1980s under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Her government implemented significant reforms aimed at reducing state intervention and promoting free-market policies, which included cuts to public spending and social services. This shift marked a significant departure from the post-World War II consensus that had supported the expansion of the welfare state. Other countries followed suit in varying degrees, but the UK's actions are often viewed as a pivotal moment in the global trend of welfare state retrenchment.