An ideal type is an analytical construct that serves as a yardstick or measuring rod for the social scientist to analyze a particular case or a group of particular cases in concern. The formation of ideal types constitutes a basic method in comparative social policy research. An ideal type is constructed by the one-sided accentuation of specific characteristics or traits of the case or cases in point and, subsequently, by synthesizing key characteristics that may be present to a greater or lesser extent in most cases under observation; sometimes such characteristics may even be absent in certain cases under scrutiny. Ideal types as a result do not refer to statistical averages of characteristics observed in any group of objects or object in concern. Ideal types are based on and constructed out of elements of reality, constituting a logical, theoretical conceptual entity that can never be found with "100%" accuracy in the empirical world, but "very close to 100%", "close" and "not-so-close" proxies will be identified. And it is up to the social scientist to measure and explain this closeness in every case, in very possible detail. This chapter explains the methodology and theory of setting up and checking against ideal types in comparative welfare state system analysis, also putting forward an empirical analysis, taking the case of welfare state systems belonging to the ideal-typical East Asian Welfare Model (i.e. the Pro-Welfare Conservative Welfare Regime).