2 August 2012: Two new publications from the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) trace the development of social policies in South Pacific countries, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The papers are part of UNRISD’s “Social Policies in Small States Series,” a joint collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat.

“Social Policies in Samoa” discusses the country’s economic and social achievements since becoming independent from New Zealand in 1962, which have made it a role model for the Pacific. The paper reviews the fundamental factors in its success and resilience, identifying welfare and social cohesion as the most significant. Poverty, crime and other social issues, however, need urgent attention to avoid threatening the country’s social cohesion and development, the paper concludes.

“Social Policies in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu” reviews Solomon Islands and Vanuatu’s development strategies, and how these have been affected by external pressures and challenges. Both countries had very poor development indicators at the time of independence. The paper highlights that a strategy grounded in Keynesian economic theory was promoted in the two countries, providing justification for government-supported strategies for developing agriculture. However, despite these strategies, economic progress has not been commensurate with the relatively high population growth. Political instability has also played a role in Solomon Islands. As a result, both countries have failed to achieve many of their social objectives. [Publication: Social Policies in Samoa: Social Policies in Small States Series, No. 6] [Publication: Social Policies in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu: Social Policies in Small States Series, No. 7] [UNRISD Webpage on Small States]