Social Policies in Samoa

Samoa is a role model in the Pacific region for its economic and social achievements. This in-depth study traces the history of government policy and examines the fundamentals underpinning the country’s progress. It also examines how the fa’a Samoa, the culture, enabled the country to build resilience after crises in the 1990s.

The country case studies and thematic papers in this series examine social policy issues facing small states and the implications for economic development. They show how, despite their inherent vulnerability, some small states have been successful in improving their social indicators because of the complementary social and economic policies they have implemented. Case Study – Samoa is widely known as a role model in the Pacific region for its economic and social achievements since gaining independence in 1962. This in-depth study traces the history of government policy and examines the fundamentals underpinning the country's social development progress: the welfare state; social cohesion; participative democracy and the power of jurisdiction. It also examines how the fa'a Samoa, the Samoan culture, and securing external assistance enabled the country to build resilience in the face of a number of crises in the 1990s – including two cyclones and a taro blight.