[...] it is far from obvious what sorts of policies are optimal for reproducing capitalism; effective solutions to a given problem may involve going against the interests of particular sectors or groups of capitalists, and their resistance may be sufficient to block functional solutions; the multiplicity of the different conditions for reproducing capitalism means that a solution to some of these destructive tendencies may undermine solutions to others. This last issue may be the most vexing. For example, state policies to reduce social conflicts of various sorts through the development of the welfare state may, over time, require levels of taxation and redistribution that encroach on capital accumulation. This is sometimes referred as the contradiction between the legitimation function of the state (fostering consent and thus reducing conflict) and the accumulation function of the state (creating optimal conditions for profits and capital accumulation). [...]