We review some possible improvements of mean field theory for application to
nuclear binding systematics. Up to now, microscopic theory has been less
successful than models starting from the liquid drop in describing accurately
the global binding systematics. We believe that there are good prospects to
develop a better global theory, using modern forms of energy density
functionals and treating correlation energies systematically by the RPA.Comment: RevTex, 17 pages, 5 eps figures. To be published in Yadernaya Fizika,
special edition for the 90th birthday of Professor A.B. Migda