Lietuva, pastaraisiais metais pasižymėjo aukštu ekonominio augimo lygiu bei atskirų sričių vystymųsi. Augant ekonomikai didėja visuomeniniai poreikiai, gamybos apimtys, auga vartojimas. Natūralu, kad tokiomis sąlygomis iškyla grėsmė aplinkai, t.y. kad spartus ekonominis vystymasis bus pasiektas aplinkos sąskaita. Pagrindinis šio darbo tikslas – remiantis teoriniais ekonominio augimo bei darnaus vystymosi pagrindais, išanalizuoti ir įvertinti pastarųjų metų Lietuvos ekonominį augimą darnaus vystymosi kontekste. / Lithuania, as well as other two Baltic states, could be characterized by a high level of economic growth and development in various fields in previous years. Naturally, threats to environment emerge under such conditions, i. e. the intense economic development is pursued at the expense of the environment. The main goal of the paper is analyse and evaluate the tendencies and perspectives on economic growth in Lithuania of the recent years, based on the theoretical principles of economic growth and sustainable development.

We assess empirically the role played by prospective ageing measures as a predictor of income growth in Europe. We show that prospective ageing measures which move beyond chronological age and incorporate changes in life expectancy are able to explain better the recent long-run growth experience of European economies. The improvement in explanatory power of prospective ageing indicators as compared to standard measures based on chronological age is particularly relevant for long-run economic growth horizons. (authors' abstract) / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

Has economic integration improved the postwar growth performance of the actual fifteen member states of the European Union (EU)? To answer this question, we first construct an index of integration for each member state that explicitly accounts for global integration (GATT) as well as regional (European) integration. Using this variable, we test for permanent and temporary growth effects in a dynamic growth accounting framework, both in a time series setting for the (aggregate) EU and a panel approach for the EU member states. Although the hypothesis of permanent growth effects as postulated by endogenous growth models with scale effects is clearly rejected, we find significant levels effects: GDP per capita of the EU would be approximately one fifth lower today, if no integration had taken place since 1950. Interestingly, two third of this effect are due to GATT-liberalization. (author's abstract) / Series: EI Working Papers / Europainstitut

Iki ekonominės krizės visuomenėje vyravo vartotojiškas požiūris, gauti kuo didesnes pajamas, noras turėti kuo daugiau, tačiau toks besaikis vartojimas pasaulį privedė prie finansinės krizės ir sukrėtė vyraujantį ekonominį modelį iki pat pamatų. Nepaisant technologinių pasiekimų, keičiantis gamybos ir vartojimo tempams kinta ir išteklių naudojimas bei aplinkos tarša. Nacionalinėje darnaus vystymosi strategijoje (toliau NDVS) (2009) iškeltas tikslas, kad Lietuva pagal ekonomikos lygį ir išteklių naudojimo efektyvumo rodiklius iki 2020 m. turi pasiekti 2003 m. ES–15 šalių vidurkį, o pagal aplinkos taršos rodiklius – neviršyti ES leistinų normatyvų, todėl labai svarbu žinoti, kaip siekiant šių tikslų gali keistis aplinkos būklė ir, ar pasiseks įgyvendinti darnaus vystymosi strategijoje numatytus aplinkosauginius tikslus. Darbo tikslas – išanalizuoti pagrindinius aplinkos sektoriaus darnaus vystymosi rodiklius ir nustatyti jų priklausomybę nuo ekonomikos pokyčių 2000–2020 m. Lietuvoje. Darbe buvo analizuojami pagrindiniai Lietuvos darnaus vystymosi ekonominiai, socialiniai ir aplinkosauginiai rodikliai 2000–2010 m., taip pat nustatyta aplinkos kintamųjų priklausomybė nuo ekonomikos (ne)augimo ir įvertintos galimos aplinkos kintamųjų tendencijos bei galimybės įgyvendinti iškeltus tikslus, pagal tris galimus ekonomikos vystymosi scenarijus 2010–2020 m. laikotarpiu. Sudarius tris galimus ekonomikos vystymosi scenarijus rezultatai parodė, kad jei šalies ūkis vystytųsi pagal pirmą (16... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Consumeristic approach to maximize income, the desire to have more has dominated in societies before the economic crisis, but that excessive consumption of the world has led to the financial crisis witch has shaken dominant economic model to the foundation. Despite technological achievements, changing production and consumption rates influence use of resources and environment pollution. The main aim of the National Sustainable Development Strategy (2009) is to achieve the average development level of EU15 in year 2003 according to the indicators of economic and social developments as well as to the efficiency in consumption of resources and to stay within the EU’s allowable limits by 2020. The aim of the study is to examine main sustainability indicators of environmental sphere and to assess their dependence from economic (GDP) changes over 2000–2020 periods in Lithuania. The main changes of indicators of sustainable development over 2000–2010 period were assessed in Lithuania. Also dependence of environment variables from economic (de)growth was examined and possible tendencies of environmental variables and opportunities to achieve foreseen targets, according to three possible scenarios for economic development over 2000–2020 periods were evaluated. Three possible scenarios for economic development has shown that if country’s economy develops according to the first (16 % GDP growth) or second (zero GDP growth) scenario, the aim set by NSDS (2009) to decouple the... [to full text]

The purpose of this study is to examine economic growth impact on financial sector development in the Baltic States by investigating interrelation between indicators of these two economic areas. Research is based on scientific literature and empirical analysis. Statistical data is collected mostly from World Bank database in the period between 1994-2009. Indicators like liquid liabilities to GDP and private credit to GDP ratio are used to measure the financial sector size and activity. Economic growth is analyzed throughout total production and factors which are suggested by three economic growth theories. Analysis of GDP is made by expenditure approach. Statistical data showed positive financial sector development in Baltic States during the research period. Estonia had highest developed financial sector, then followed Latvia and Lithuania. The main reason for strongest financial performance in Estonia can be explained by highest export and import activity, financial capital accumulation and lowest real interest rates, unemployment and population. Financial sector development in Latvia was supported by high education expenditure and capital formation in the private sector. Lowest performance of financial activity in Lithuania can be justified by greatest unemployment, population and lowest financial capital attraction. This work confirms Patrick's (1966) demand-following hypothesis which states that growing economy leads to increasing demand of financial services and so... [to full text] / Šių studijų tikslas yra ištirti ekonomikos augimo įtaką finansinio sektoriaus plėtrai Baltijos šalyse, nagrinėjant tarpusavio ryšį tarp šių dviejų ekonominiu sričių vystymosi rodiklių. Tyrimas remiasi moksline literatūra ir empirine analize. Statistiniai duomenys yra surinkti daugiausiai iš Pasaulio Banko duomenų bazės 1994-2009 metų laikotarpyje. Indikatoriai kaip likvidţių įsipareigojimų santykis su BVP ir privačių kreditų santykis su BVP yra naudojami matuojant finansinio sektoriaus dydį ir aktyvumą. Ekonomikos augimas analizuojamas per bendrą produkciją ir indikatorius, kurie buvo pasiūlyti trijų ekonomikos augimo teorijų. BVP analizuojamas išlaidų metodu. Statistiniai duomenys parodė pozityvų finansinio sektoriaus vystymąsi Baltijos šalyse tiriamajame laikotarpyje. Estija turėjo labiausiai išvystytą finansinį sektorių, po jos sekė Latvija ir galiausiai Lietuva. Stipri finansinė padėtis Estijoje gali būti paaiškinama dėl aukšto eksporto ir importo aktyvumo, finansinio kapitalo akumuliacijos ir ţemos palūkanų normos, ţemo nedarbo ir populiacijos. Finansinio sektoriaus plėtra Latvijoje buvo paremta didelėmis švietimo išlaidomis ir kapitalo formavimu privačiame sektoriuje. Silpnesnį finansinį sektorių Lietuvoje greičiausiai sąlygojo didţiausias nedarbas, populiacija, ir maţiausias finansinio kapitalo pritraukimas. Šis darbas patvirtina Patricko (1966) paklausos-sekimo hipotezę, kuri teigia, kad ekonomikos augimas veda prie didėjančios finansinių paslaugų paklausos ir taip... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Applying a growth accounting framework and a wide range of static and dynamic panel data estimators on a panel covering 22 market economies and 11 transition countries over 1990-2001, we find a weak and fragile finance-growth link in market economies, but strong financial sectorinduced short-run growth effects in transition countries. The main growth effect hereby runs via the productivity channel. Parametric heterogeneity and financial structure seem to play a more important role than hitherto assumed: The financial sector and its different segments trigger different growth effects in different countries. (author's abstract) / Series: EI Working Papers / Europainstitut

This dissertation focuses on the relationship between the education-based fertility gap and economic growth and on policy as a determinant of fertility. In the first essay I evaluate the impact of differential fertility (the difference between fertility rates of women with high educational attainment and women with low educational attainment) on economic growth by accounting for critical marginal effects and the general level of educational attainment in a given country. I also examine the possibility that this effect varies based on level of inequality and income levels. I find that for a less developed country with high income inequality, higher fertility rates of women with lower education has a favorable impact on economic development. In the second essay I examine the transmission and magnitude of the effect of differential fertility on economic growth at the subnational level. I explore the relationship between differential fertility and economic growth in a cross-U.S. state context. I find that a larger gap in fertility rates between highly-educated and less-educated women is strongly associated with a decrease in the rate of long-run economic growth across U.S. states, even after accounting for the levels of inequality and overall fertility. In the third essay I explore policy as a determinant of the education-based fertility gap. I use the 2007 Massachusetts healthcare reform which provides a good setting for evaluating the effect of an exogenous policy on the fertility. I find that fertility increases among young married women and decreases among young unmarried women but that there is no asymmetrical fertility response based on the education level of the mother.

Darbo objektas - žmonių gerovės ir laimės sąryšis Darbo tikslas - ištirti žmonių gerovės kilimo ir laimės sąryšį Lietuvoje. Darbo uždaviniai: Ištirti ir susisteminti mokslinę teorinę ir empirinę literatūra, nagrinėjančią gerovės ir laimės ryšius. Remiantis literatūros analize, suformuluoti tyrimo metodiką, bei pateikti jos pagrindimą. Išnagrinėti žmonių gerovę lemiančius veiksnius ir išanalizuoti žmonių laimės indeksą labiausiai įtakojančius faktorių dinamiką Lietuvoje bei palyginti su kitų šalių duomenimis. Išstudijavus gerovę ir laimę lemiančius veiksnių dinamiką išnagrinėti jų tarpusavio sąryšį, taikant statistinės analizės metodus; Atlikti gyventojų anketinę apklausą, siekiant nustatyti veiksnius, įtakojančius jų laimės pojūtį bei įvertinti jų poveikį laimės pojūčiui užsibrėžtoje skalėje. / Work item - the people's welfare and happiness, and the relationship between them. The aim - to explore people's welfare and happiness, and relationship between them in Lithuania. Job tasks: 1. Investigate scientific, theoretical and empirical literature dealing with the welfare and happiness. 2. Based on the literature analysis, create formulation of research methodology, and to provide its justification. 3. Examine human welfare and to analyze the determinants of human happiness index of the factors influencing the dynamics of Lithuania, and compared with data from other countries. 4. Examination welfare and happiness of the determinants of factors to examine the dynamics of their relationship, the application of statistical methods of analysis; 5. Make survey questionnaire, in order to identify the factors that influence people sense of happiness and to assess their impact on the feelings of happiness's scale. Hypothesis - people's feeling of happiness in Lithuania are directly dependent on their economic welfare. The work will contain three parts. The first part is an overview of scientific information, scientific articles related to the path of prosperity and happiness, and relationships. The second part will present the study methodology and its rationale, as well as analysis of the key indicators of well-being and happiness a sense of the determinants of the trend in Lithuania and statistically assess the relationship between them. The third section will present... [to full text]

The study investigated on the channels of poverty reduction in Malawi, using household data aggregated at district level. Malawi is divided into 31 districts with different demographics and opportunities. Macro level data which was calculated in terms of district percentages were used in the study. The study emanated from the premise of the link between economic growth and poverty reduction. With the trend of growth that was seen in Malawi from 2004 to 2012; there was an interest to further investigate if there had been any significant change in the poverty levels as measured in the country by the National Statistical office. The objectives of the study were two pronged; the theoretical and the imperial. The theoretical objectives were; to provide a background of Malawi, to review the literature on poverty theories, to review the literature on the link between poverty reduction and the channels of potential impact, namely: economic growth, education attainment, access to loans and enterprises, agricultural production, population growth and employment or unemployment. The empirical objectives on the other hand were; to investigate if there has been any poverty reduction in the years 1998 to 2012 in Malawi, to assess how economic growth at a district level proxied by agriculture production and land holding affect poverty at district level in Malawi, to assess how education attainment affect poverty reduction at a district level in Malawi, conduct an analysis on how employment or unemployment affect poverty reduction at a district level. Also investigate the relationship between access to loan and poverty reduction in Malawi and to determine if different poverty measures exhibit statistically significant different responses to channels under investigation namely economic growth, education levels, population growth and access to loans at district level. The study employed descriptive and regression analysis to arrive at the results for the set empirical objectives. Due to the fact that panel data was used for districts, a random effects regression model was used for the estimations. A Breusch-Pagan test was used to decide on random effects as opposed to fixed effects model. The results from the regressions showed that all the channels that were hypothesised to be of importance, came out significant from objective based regressions. These regressions were run separately for each channel, with the district poverty rate as a dependent variable. The study found the considered channels of poverty reduction to be significant at different levels. First, it was established that there has been significant growth in Malawi. This growth however was seen to be erratic where in other years it was higher and in other years lower. A more important conclusion from the first objective was that there had been poverty reduction in the country between 1998 and 2012. A t test was also used for mean difference in the years where Integrated Household surveys were conducted namely, 1998, 2004 and 2012. The t-test showed a statistically significant reduction in poverty between 1998 and 2012 of up to 15.07. The study also found that the relationship between agricultural production and poverty was significant especially looking at local maize production which had a negative significant coefficient. Implying that, an increase in agricultural production has an associated reduction in the district poverty rate. It was also established from the results that input subsidy had a significant impact on poverty at district level. This input programme which helps poor households to access fertilizer at a highly subsidised price had a negative relationship with poverty that was significant. This shows that government’s effort in funding the national wide fertilizer subsidy has some bearing on the poverty level of the country. On the relationship between education and poverty reduction, the study also found a significant relationship. This was clear on the impact of literacy rate on poverty reduction. The regression results showed a significant negative relationship between literacy rate and poverty reduction. The channels of employment in poverty reduction was found to be significant but in a direction unexpected. Labour force participation had a positive influence on poverty rate at district level. A number of things were discovered; first the employment rate as reported in the statistical year book is misleading. What is considered employment in these statistics is basically subsistence farmers who take up more than 80% of the employment rate. Second, most of what is recorded as employment is non-skill labour with people without education recoding a 99% employment rate. This is a misleading record in as far as what employment for poverty reduction is concerned. It is therefore not a surprise that, most of the people reported as employed are also found below the poverty line some even below the ultra-poverty line. A special contribution resulting from the study is the framework on the interconnection between the channels. The study points out the fact that for agricultural production to thrive there is need for education. Also for agricultural production to succeed there is need for the farmers to have access to loans. the study discovered that more than 45 percept of the loans people obtained were for agricultural inputs. There is also a link between education and employment, education and access to loans and access to loans and employment through business start-ups that create employment. The conclusion of the study is that policies that are intended to reduce poverty should be aimed at promoting education participation. There is also need to create an environment that enables the poor to access loans and credits at a reasonable interest rate. The government should continue with the input subsidy programme for the poor household. There is need for the national statistical office to reconsider the definition of employment so that the government works with practical figures, other than the inflated employment rates that are reported in the statistical year book. / PhD (Economics), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

This dissertation will explore how developing provinces within countries attract foreign direct investment. The policy implication to this study is important because it could account for the uneven distribution of growth in developing countries that so frequently leads to dual economies. To attract foreign direct investments, provincial governments compete among themselves trying to appeal to international investors. There is consensus in the economic development literature that both economic and political variables interact to advance a nation's economy. The ability for a country to provide a free market economy to exchange goods and ideas makes the environment more favorable for investors, hence it makes sense to focus on institutions that can attract FDI if the government is committed to developing its economy and compete in the global market. Political factors serves as an important component of strengthening a country's economy. Political variables such as political capacity have helped ensure the success of a growing economy. Governments must possess the ability to extract resources from its people, thereby pursuing policy goals to create a more favorable market environment for investors. Investors then feel more confident and comfortable investing in these economies. This political variable has helped countries redefine themselves in the global community as credible and safe countries for investment. However, this political variable alone is not enough to explain how to attract foreign direct investments in developing countries. Rather, governments must also possess the economic tools necessary, such as economic growth and an open economy. These economic tools combined with political capacity can effectively attract foreign direct investments. Many provinces in developing countries lack these variables, thereby jeopardizing the opportunity to attract foreign direct investments and compete in the global market. Hence, I look at both the political and economical variables as an interaction variable as a strong indicator to attract foreign direct investments. If my work is successful, I hope that these findings can serve as a policy tool for provinces of developing countries to effectively attract foreign direct investments in a competitive global market.