Spatial Data Envelopment Analysis Method for the Evaluation of Regional Infrastructure Disparities

Purpose—to achieve a more detailed assessment of regional differences, exploring regional infrastructure and human capital usage efficiency and to display analysis capabilities of spatial data efficient frontier method.Design/methodology/approach—the data envelopment analysis (DEA) is applied to find the efficient frontier, which extends the application of production function of the regions. This method of mathematical programming optimization allows assessing the effectiveness of the regional spatial aspects presented. In recent studies this method is applied for evaluating the European Union regional policy issues.Findings—the application of DEA reveals its feasibility for regional input and output studies to evaluate more detailed and more reasonable fund allocation between Lithuanian regions. This analysis shows that in the comparatively efficient Lithuanian regions, such as Vilnius and Klaipėda, “the bottleneck” of usage of transport infrastructure and regional specific human capital is reached. It is stated that decision-making units could enhance region attractiveness for private investors by improving indirect factors in these regions. For practical significance of the study the results are compared with German regional analysis, conducted by Schaffer and other researchers (2011).Practical implications—the practical value of this work is based on giving more accurate planning tools for fund allocation decisions in Lithuanian regions while planning infrastructure and human capital development. The regional indicators were analyzed for 2010.Research type—case study

Development of Real Estate Funds in Europe and Lithuania

Due to the growing economy in Lithuania as well its a rapid integration into the European Union and global markets, improvement of the investment process in real estate has been and will continue to be a topic of great interest. The article presents an analysis of the investment process in real estate. It aims at presenting a theoretical and practical evaluation of real estate as an investment object. To this end, the first part of the paper singles out the most important concepts related to real estate, compares real estate with other types of investment, analyses real estate in the investment portfolio. The second part explores the importance of real estate investment funds in order to ensure an efficient and expansive functioning of the investment market in the European Union and to expand the Lithuanian market of investment goods. It also investigates the legal basis and development of real estate funds in the European Union. Lithuanian legislation provided a possibility for real estate funds to operate only at the end of 2007: on 15 November 2007 a new edition of the Law on Collective Investment Undertaking of the Republic of Lithuania was adopted, stipulating a possibility for specialized funds to appear in Lithuania from 1 March 2008

Development of Real Estate Funds in Europe and Lithuania

Due to the growing economy in Lithuania as well its a rapid integration into the European Union and global markets, improvement of the investment process in real estate has been and will continue to be a topic of great interest. The article presents an analysis of the investment process in real estate. It aims at presenting a theoretical and practical evaluation of real estate as an investment object. To this end, the first part of the paper singles out the most important concepts related to real estate, compares real estate with other types of investment, analyses real estate in the investment portfolio. The second part explores the importance of real estate investment funds in order to ensure an efficient and expansive functioning of the investment market in the European Union and to expand the Lithuanian market of investment goods. It also investigates the legal basis and development of real estate funds in the European Union. Lithuanian legislation provided a possibility for real estate funds to operate only at the end of 2007: on 15 November 2007 a new edition of the Law on Collective Investment Undertaking of the Republic of Lithuania was adopted, stipulating a possibility for specialized funds to appear in Lithuania from 1 March 2008

UNIVERSITETINĖS LEIDYBOS PROCESO SISTEMA: SANDARA IR JOS ELEMENTAI

In this article the structure and elements of Lithuanian universities publishing process and its publishing stages as continuous university publishing process are analysed.The preparation of the publishing consists of two main stages: 1) the stage before publishing, when publication is approbated by academic commission and 2) the stage of preparedness, when publication is delivered to the press and is preparing to publish. One of the most important elements of the first stage is the approbation in the academic institution structural department, which helps to keep high purport quality of academic and studies publications. Further stages of publication are general – publication is editing, correcting and doing layout. The structure of university publishing process and its elements (actions) – stage before publishing and stage of preparedness – are handled like a solid and continuous system of publishing process.The general system of universities publishing process is typical and fits to all Lithuanian academical institutions, but typical system of universities publishing process, even if it is solid and continuous, still is not explicated becauseof long lasting stage before publishing and sta-ge of preparedness.Vilniaus universiteto Knygotyros ir dokumentotyros institutasUniversiteto g. 3, LT-01513 Vilnius, LietuvaEl. paštas: [email protected]Šiaulių universiteto Lietuvių kalbotyros ir komunikacijos katedraP. Višinskio g. 38, LT-76352 Šiauliai, LietuvaEl. paštas: [email protected] nagrinėjama Lietuvos universitetinės leidybos proceso sandara ir jos elementai, išskiriant konkrečius leidybos etapus kaip vientisą ir nenutrūkstamą universitetinės leidybos darbo ir veiklos procesą. Universitetinėse leidyklose įvairių leidinių tipų rengimas publikuoti susideda iš dviejų pagrindinių etapų: 1) ikileidybinės parengties etapo, kuriame leidinys aprobuojamas mokslinės komisijos kaip tinkamas leidybai ir 2) leidybinės parengties etapo, kuriame leidinys perduodamas leidyklai ir ten rengiamas publikuoti. Vienas svarbiausių ikileidybinės parengties etapo elementų yra leidinio aprobacija akademinės institucijos struktūriniuose padaliniuose, padedanti išlaikyti aukštą universitetinės leidyklos publikuojamų mokslo ir studijų leidinių turinio kokybę. Tolesni aprobuotos ir atiduotos į leidyklą knygos leidybinės parengties etapai yra bendri – leidinys redaguojamas, koreguojamas ir maketuojamas. Taigi universitetinės leidybos proceso sandara ir jos elementai (veiksmai) – ikileidybinės ir leidybinės parengties etapai – traktuotini kaip vientisa ir nenutrūkstama leidybos proceso sistema. Straipsnyje prieita prie išvados, kad bendroji universitetinės leidybos proceso sistema yra tipinė ir tinka visoms akademinėms mūsų šalies institucijoms. Tačiau ši sistema, nors ir būdama vientisa ir nenutrūkstama, vis dar nėra pakankamai išplėtota dėl ilgai trunkančių ikileidybinės ir leidybinės parengties etapų

UNIVERSITETINĖS LEIDYBOS SAMPRATA: TERMINIJOS PROBLEMATIKA

By analyzing scientific literature on the subject of university publishing the following problems were discovered: first, the concept of university publishing is not used in Lithuanian book science in general, on the other hand, this term is not present in the Lithuanian language dictionaries or glossaries; third, a more general concept of academic publishing is often in use. Thus, the concept of university publishing is undefined.One can notice that the term of academic publishing is often used instead of the university publishing. By analyzing specific activity of university publishers it was discovered that essential meaning aspects of the terms are lost when using the generalized term of academic publishing. These aspects are very important for understanding and identification of essential features of the university publishing. The legitimizing of the concept of the university publishing will help to discuss and research the phenomena of the university publishing.The analysis of the definition of the term academic publishing has shown that this concept is wider and includes university publishing as a narrower concept. Therefore, it is possible to identify the types of academic publishing by subordination to a certain educational or research institutions. It would be important to emphasize the broadness and narrowness of the concepts academic and university publishing. The investigation of the usage of both terms in Lithuanian and foreign literature shows that the use of them depends on the traditions of understanding academic and university publishing in a particular country.Vilniaus universiteto Knygotyros ir dokumentotyros institutasUniversiteto g. 3, LT-01513 Vilnius, LietuvaEl. paštas: [email protected]ėjant universitetinės leidybos reiškinį, keliamas šios sampratos terminologinės analizės uždavinys, t. y. neišvengiamai būtina apibrėžti pačią sąvoką „universitetinė leidyba“. Formuluojant universitetinės leidybos apibrėžtį, susiduriama su terminijos problema – specialiojoje literatūroje vartojama daug įvairių terminų. Situaciją sunkina ir tai, kad tokia sąvoka kaip „universitetinė leidyba“ apskritai nevartojama, taip pat šio termino nėra mūsų šalies terminų žodynuose. Kita problema – jos apibrėžtis nesuformuluota ir neaprašyta. Taigi į šiuolaikinės knygotyros paradigmą terminas „universitetinė leidyba“ nėra įtrauktas. Pastebima, kad kalbant apie mokslų akademijos, universiteto, instituto ar kitos aukštosios mokyklos mokslinės ir mokomosios literatūros leidybą, dažniausiai vartojamas „akademinės leidybos“ terminas, greta jo – „akademinio leidinio“ sąvoka, neišskiriant universitetinės leidybos reiškinio

Europos Sąjungos biudžeto reforma: ko siekiame?

The importance of financial flows to and from the EU budget is widely recognized because contributions to the EU budget and payments from it undoubtedly influence not only the expenditures and revenues of the national budget, but also the priorities of national policy and the whole economy of the country. But the level of the EU financial assistance depends mainly on the EU budget structure: its size, main budget financing principles and the priorities Europe has chosen. The structure of the current EU budget was formed in 1987, when the European Commission submitted its different proposals on every category of the EU budget expenditure and its own resources system. Twenty years passed, and Europe has changed dramatically: the number of EU member states increased from 12 to 27, new priorities as well as new problems that which can be solved at the EU level only have appeared. Therefore Europe’s policies and their financing need to evolve new priorities. The first public step in the process of the reform of all aspects of EU spending and resources was made in September 2007 by the European Commission through the publication of the Consultation paper on the EU budget reform, The aim of this consultation is to determine the structure and direction of the European Union’s spending priorities to meet the challenges of the globalized world in the next decade and beyond.The present EU budget comprises five headings which seem to fully correspond to the priorities of modem Europe because it reflects the main and most up-ta-date European policies. However, facts show that the EU budget is a historical relic because the biggest part of the EU expenditure goes on supporting the agricultural sector whose economic significance is declining and therefore it cannot contribute to growth in Europe. Moreover, the major part of the EU structural funds is allocated to high income countries and makes it impossible for lowincome countries to catch up with the rest. Therefore, the EU claim to become a modem, dynamic and competitive knowledge economy requires to review its budget priorities and structure to finance first those economic and social areas where it is best able to make a contribution to the growth and solidarity in Europe.The European Commission started the EU budget review process with the Consultation paper which invited all actors at all levels to participate in a frank debate on future challenges and to decide how the EU spending can be focused on where it can generate the highest benefit Member states participating in these debates have a perfect opportunity to rethink and distinguish new national priorities. In the process of discussion in Lithuania, it is also important to combine national and European interests as well as to reach an agreement internally: to combine sectoral and national interests and to find a balance between different actors participating in this discussion.In the course of discussion on the EU budget review, it is vital to remember that a higher level of financing does not necessarily ensures better results on the EU level. It is also important to decide whether it is easier to achieve the EU goals by increasing the level of financing or by intensifying the control or improving the regulation. Its is even more import ant to find a reasonable balance between the volume of financing and the European value added.Europos Sąjungos (ES) biudžetas yra svarbus Lietuvos ekonomikos augimo variklis ir nemažų lėšų šaltinis. Tačiau keičiantis situacijai Europoje ir visame pasaulyje, turėtų keistis ir Europos prioritetai, kartu ES biudžetas. Ateityje Lietuvos iš Europos Sąjungos gaunamos paramos dydis labiausiai priklausys nuo peržiūrėto ES biudžeto struktūros, jo sudarymo ir išlaidų skirstymo principų. Todėl, nenorėdama likti nuošalyje, Lietuva turėtų aktyviai dalyvauti ES biuždeto peržiūroje ir taip prisidėti prie ateities biudžetų kūrimo. ES biudžeto reforma jau prasidėjo ir šiame reformos etape Lietuvai ir kitoms valstybėms narėms svarbu nuspręsti, kokią Europą norime matyti ateityje, kokiais svarbiausiais principais turėtų būti remiamasi nustatant ES politikos prioritetus ir kaip nauji prioritetai turėtų būti atspindėti Europos Sąjungos biudžeto struktūroje.Šiame straipsnyje nagrinėjama ES biudžeto reformos problema, kuri yra aktuali ir Lietuvai, nes neabejotinai turės įtakos šalies ekonomikai ir ūkio plėtrai, apžvelgiama ES biudžeto raida nuo 7965 m. iki šių dienų, analizuojama, kaip keitėsi biudžeto santykinis dydis ir struktūra. Straipsnyje aptariama dabartinio ES biudžeto struktūra ir pagrindžiama šio biudžeto reformos būtinybė. Vienas iš sudėtingiausių ES biudžeto reformos aspektų - skirti ES lėšas ten, kur jos duos realios naudos visai Europai, todėl straipsnyje bandoma išryškinti bendrus principus, kuriais turėtų būti vadovaujamasi vertinant ES politikos prioritetus ir reformuojant ES biudžetą

Asset-based approach to poverty reduction in Lithuania

This paper reviews the articles of Lithuanian authors on social policy topic and assesses if the asset-based policy topic was ever explored. It briefly analyses the efficiency of current social security policy in Lithuania and social-economical state of inhabitants. It states that in order to reduce poverty and inequality, current social policy should be reformed, and the current income support (or income security) policy should be replaced by the asset-based policy which stresses the development of skills, knowledge and capabilities, promotes savings, investments and building of assets and gives everyone a possibility to become a capital owner. The paper presents results of a representative survey which was aimed to explore Lithuanian inhabitants’ opinion towards the new form of social policy: asset-based policy. It uncovers that vast majority of Lithuania's inhabitants would agree to the implementation of the asset-based policy, based on children's savings accounts

Studijų kokybės užtikrinimas fakultete: universitetinių ekonomikos studijų patirtis

The purpose of studies is to provide sufficient application fundamentals of theoretical and practical knowledge, cultivate certain future specialist abilities to ensure the preparation level needed at work. Measurements on quality of studies as well as the study quality assurance are commendable and encouraged, such as the strive towards the ideal study process, superb education, good and prestigious studies, etc. The students’ level of knowledge and professional preparation adequacy to the international requirements, conversely, remarks on quality of studies can always be proclaimed.The internal quality of study evaluation and securitization systems implemented or in the process of implementation in the number of Lithuanian higher education institutions or universities, have gained recognition. These systems are based on standard application of ISO 9001 quality management system, main advantage is recognition of management ability for quality of study process in the division.The Quality management system was designed and the process of implementation in the Faculty of Economics proceeded including different aspects. Main consideration is given to the description of quality of studies at Vilnius University Faculty of Economics, assessed by means of abundant students’ survey data.The survey result processing system gives an opportunity to obtain a thorough view of the study process in respect to teaching and subject quality, popularity, discipline, the level of the taught subjects and obtained useful information on relevant study questions.The obtained results for the quality of studies and quality management system utilization in Vilnius University Faculty of Economics are presented in more details, and the perspectives of the process are foreseen.Profesorė socialinių mokslų daktarė (HP)Vilniaus universitetoEkonominės politikos katedraSaulėtekio al. 9, II rūmai, 411 k.LTLT-10222 VilniusEl. paštas: [email protected] socialinių mokslų daktarasVilniaus universitetoKiekybinių metodų ir modeliavimo katedraSaulėtekio al. 9, II rūmai, 404 k.LTLT-10222VilniusEl. paštas: [email protected] nagrinėjami studijų proceso vertinimo ir palaikymo metodiniai ir praktiniai aspektai. Pagrindinis dėmesys skiriamas Vilniaus universiteto Ekonomikos fakulteto studijų kokybei apibūdinti naudojant studentų apklausas apie dėstymo, studijų programų kokybę. Aptariama kokybės vadybos sistemos diegimo šiame fakultete patirtis ir perspektyvos

KLAIPĖDOS MIESTO IR PRIEMIESČIŲ ZONŲ GYVENTOJŲ SKAIČIAUS KAITA IR GYVENVIEČIŲ PLĖTRA

Article examines Klaipėda city and its suburban areas territorial change, as well as population change during the year 2005–2013. During these decades, cities experienced major changes because of previously created city models. Because of this, on these days it is still important to predict city’s future development, expansion and metamorphosis. Today it is very important to predict and make future prognoses of city development in case to avoid spatial planning failure, rising from social and demographical economical problems. Even today cities are facing sub-urbanization which leads to city emptiness. Therefore, article’s main aim is Klaipėda city and its suburban zones together with population future analysis and development. According to received Klaipėda city, city suburban areas and population change results during these eight years, the most important thing was to create and understand future of the city, suburban areas and population development in this area till the nearest 2020 year.KEY WORDS: city, Klaipėda, suburb, population, settlements.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/tbb.v67i2.847

Analysis of the housing market in Lithuania

Cointegration and Granger causality tests were used for the statistical analyses of the housing market in Lithuania. The relationship between the cost of housing and afford‐ability on the one hand, and interest rates, GDP and average incomes on the other was not proven to exist using the given statistical methods. The period of increase in the cost of housing in Lithuania over the last five years is exceptional and difficult to explain using fundamental economic factors and their fluctuation trends alone. The cost of housing has made a clear departure from the economic (business) cycle; the economy has grown, however at a much slower rate than rising costs in the housing market. The reasons for this situation are record lows in interest rates, good conditions to gain financing, the liberalisation of financial markets, speculative attitudes in expectation of the introduction of the Euro, and a divide between the supply and demand of housing that is available. It should be noted that the evaluation of the influence of these factors on fluctuations in costs in the housing market is more hypothetical in nature. Santrauka Nekilnojamojo turto rinkos Lietuvoje statistinei analizei buvo naudojami kointegravimo ir Grangerio priežastingumo testai. Taikant esamus statistinius metodus nebuvo įrodyta, kad egzistavo ryšys tarp nekilnojamojo turto kainos ir įperkamumo, viena vertus, ir palūkanų normų, BVP bei vidutinių pajamų, kita vertus. Nekilnojamojo turto kainos Lietuvoje didėjimo per pastaruosius penketą metų laikotarpis yra išskirtinis ir sunkiai paaiškinamas remiantis vien pagrindiniais ekonominiais veiksniais ir jų svyravimų tendencijomis. Nekilnojamojo turto kaina aiškiai nukrypo nuo ekonomikos (verslo) ciklo; ekonomika išaugo, tačiau gerokai lėtesniu tempu nei augančios kainos nekilnojamojo turto rinkoje. Šios situacijos priežastys – rekordiškai mažos palūkanų normos, geros sąlygos gauti fi nansavimą, fi nansų rinkos liberalizavimas, spekuliaciniai požiūriai tikintis įsivesti eurą ir takoskyra tarp esamo nekilnojamojo turto pasiūlos ir paklausos. Pažymėtina, kad šių veiksnių įtakos kainų svyravimo nekilnojamojo turto rinkoje įvertinimas yra labiau hipotetinis. First published online: 18 Oct 201