Problem: Persistent low employment creates a variety of social problems such as an increase in crime, higher infant mortality, and general social unrest and poverty.

Solution: In areas where access to education is improved and where goverment creates a business climate favorable to economic growth employment rates tend to go up and poverty is reduced. The following article illustrates how Ireland set long-terms goals for economic development and invested heavily in her education system to increase literacy rates and and the number of workers with advanced education. As a result of these investments Ireland went from having one of the highest rates of unemployment in the EU to boasting one of the lowests. Ireland now enjoys having one of the highest average standards of living in the world today.