Postcolonial dilemma: convergence or divergence of pension systems in Trinidad and Tobago and the United Kingdom from the perspective of social inequalities (1962–2025)

Abstract

This article presents a comparative analysis of pension systems in Trinidad and Tobago and the United Kingdom from 1962 to 2025, in the context of institutional convergence and divergence processes and their impact on social inequalities. The study aims to verify the hypothesis of prevailing structural divergence alongside parametric convergence between systems sharing common colonial roots. The research employs comparative institutional-legal analysis using primary and secondary data from official sources in both countries. Results confirm the main hypothesis - despite the shared heritage of the British Beveridge model, systems developed in different structural directions. Great Britain adopted a mixed public-private model with a growing role of capital markets, while Trinidad and Tobago consistently developed a state-dominated system with strong redistributive emphasis. Simultaneously, both countries show convergence in basic parameters - retirement age, indexation mechanisms, and strengthening redistributive elements. Different developmental trajectories brought varying consequences for social inequalities: the British system features greater benefit differentiation and growing intergenerational disparities, while the Trinidadian system better protects the poorest groups, but exclusion of the informal sector deepens other inequality dimensions. The study provides valuable insights for designing pension reforms in postcolonial countries and theories of public policy transfer.