Contribution of the new economy to Estonia's economic growth and convergence with the European economy

Contribution of the New Economy to Estonia's economic growth is studied from the aspects of information and communication technology (ICT) penetration and development of high and medium-high tech industries. Comparison with EU member states and other candidate countries reveals that especially Internet penetration in Estonia is rather high. Contribution of high tech exports is also good in international comparison. Nevertheless, the direct impact of high tech industries and especially medium-high tech industries on economic growth might have been better. The main impact on growth is indirect and goes via high ICT level in the economy as a whole

J-PLUS: The Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey

The Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey (J-PLUS) is an ongoing 12-band photometric optical survey, observing thousands of square degrees of the Northern Hemisphere from the dedicated JAST/T80 telescope at the Observatorio Astrofisico de Javalambre (OAJ). The T80Cam is a camera with a field of view of 2 deg(2) mounted on a telescope with a diameter of 83 cm, and is equipped with a unique system of filters spanning the entire optical range (3500-10 000 angstrom). This filter system is a combination of broad-, medium-, and narrow-band filters, optimally designed to extract the rest-frame spectral features (the 3700-4000 angstrom Balmer break region, H delta, Ca H+K, the G band, and the Mg b and Ca triplets) that are key to characterizing stellar types and delivering a low-resolution photospectrum for each pixel of the observed sky. With a typical depth of AB similar to 21.25 mag per band, this filter set thus allows for an unbiased and accurate characterization of the stellar population in our Galaxy, it provides an unprecedented 2D photospectral information for all resolved galaxies in the local Universe, as well as accurate photo-z estimates (at the delta z/(1 + z) similar to 0.005-0.03 precision level) for moderately bright (up to r similar to 20 mag) extragalactic sources. While some narrow-band filters are designed for the study of particular emission features ([O II]/lambda 3727, H alpha/lambda 6563) up to z < 0.017, they also provide well-defined windows for the analysis of other emission lines at higher redshifts. As a result, J-PLUS has the potential to contribute to a wide range of fields in Astrophysics, both in the nearby Universe (Milky Way structure, globular clusters, 2D IFU-like studies, stellar populations of nearby and moderate-redshift galaxies, clusters of galaxies) and at high redshifts (emission-line galaxies at z approximate to 0.77, 2.2, and 4.4, quasi-stellar objects, etc.). With this paper, we release the first similar to 1000 deg(2) of J-PLUS data, containing about 4.3 million stars and 3.0 million galaxies at r < 21 mag. With a goal of 8500 deg(2) for the total J-PLUS footprint, these numbers are expected to rise to about 35 million stars and 24 million galaxies by the end of the survey

In memoriam Dr. Olev Lugus (12.03.1935-27.06.2014). Mit Zusammenfassung

Olev Lugus was born in a farmer’s family in the Sangaste Parish, Valga County on the 12th of March 1935. He began his education in the Restu primary school and continued in Valga Accounting and Planning Technical High School. After graduating from the Technical High School, he started his working career as an economist in the industry department at the Planning Committee of the Pärnu region. In 1953, his career continued in the Pärnu woodworking factory „Viisnurk“ in the position of senior engineer, later as a head of department. In parallel with work, Olev Lugus went to study at the Tartu State University, from which he graduated in 1962 in the speciality of industrial economics. After graduating, he decided to take up an academic career in economics. In 1962, he started his long and productive research career at the Institute of Economics, Academy of Sciences of the Estonian SSR (later Estonian Institute of Economics at Tallinn University of Technology); at first as a junior researcher, then, after post-graduate studies and defending the thesis of a Candidate of Economics (PhD) „The Main Perspectives and Economic Efficiency of the Complex Using of Wood in the Estonian SSR“ as a senior researcher (1971). Quite soon, in 1972, he was appointed a head of the department of industrial economics. In 1986, he was promoted to the position of research director and in 1989, was elected a director of the Institute of Economics. He remained the director of the Institute also after re-elections until 1998. In the period 1998–2000, he worked as an economic advisor to the Estonian Employers’ Confederation. Olev Lugus was the director of the Institute of Economics in a complicated but also a very interesting and promising period when Estonia regained its independence. It was not easy to be part of the process of reforming the Estonian Academy of Sciences and the research system. At the same time, it was very stimulating to take new challenges – important orders from new institutions of the Republic of Estonia for applied research and analyses. One of the new challenges was the launch of applications for international research projects. Under the leadership of Olev Lugus, the Institute of Economics faced these challenges successfully. The main area of his personal research was analysis and prognostication of development of the Estonian industry, focusing on analysis of the use of Estonian forest resources and wood industry. In the period of regaining independence in Estonia, different macro-economic research topics were on the agenda. Olev Lugus was the Estonian leader in 10 international projects, including with such partners as PHARE programme, International Centre of Economic Growth (ICEG, USA), Finnish Institute of Economic Research (ETLA) etc. He was also one of the leaders of working out the programme of Estonian economic independence (so-called IME-project). Olev Lugus was the Estonian coordinator of the ICEG (1985–1998); a member of the Estonian President’s Academic Council (1994–1996); a vice-chairman of the Estonian Economic Association and had several other important public appointments. He made over 2100 presentations in Estonia and abroad about his research findings and development problems of the Estonian economy. He was also an author of nearly 150 publications and an editor of 8 collections of research papers on economics, including the Estonian-Finnish joint collection “Comparison of the Estonian and Finnish Socioeconomic Development” (Helsinki 1993), which in 1994 received the Estonian Science Award in humanities and social sciences. Olev Lugus has been awarded a Badge of Honour Order (1981) and in 1987, he received the honorary title of the meritorious cultural figure of the Estonian SSR. Colleagues remember Olev Lugus as an energetic, productive and capable scientist who achieved a lot. He was a warm and friendly person, very considerate and kind to his colleagues. Olev Lugus, an internationally renowned Estonian economist and tireless populariser of economics died on the 27th of June 2014 in Tallin

Energy Expenses in Households with Different Standards of Living

This article provides results of an analysis of energy expenses in households with different income and expenditure levels. The authors have used the Statistical Office of Estonia Household Income and Expenditure Survey data for the period 2000-2005. The analysis was conducted across household income deciles, expenditure deciles and also across regions (counties). For background information the authors have examined the development of electricity consumption and electricity price trends. Price dynamics of boiler fuels used in energy enterprises in the period 2000-2005 have also been analysed, with the main focus on price trends of renewable energy sources. The structure of Estonian households’ dwelling expenditure has been compared to Finland’s respective data in 2003energy expenses, household member, income and expenditure deciles, dwelling expenses, energy prices, renewable energy sources

Biogaasi tootmise ja kasutamise pilootuuring Lääne-Virumaal

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Biogaasi tootmise ja kasutamise pilootuuring Harjumaal

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From Waste to Traffic Fuel (W-Fuel)

The EU directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (Directive 2009/28/EC) sets a mandatory minimum target for the use of fuels produced using renewable energy sources of 10% of total petrol and diesel consumption in the transport sector by the year 2020. In addition, it states that production of renewable fuels should be consistent with sustainable development and must not endanger biodiversity. In the INTERREG IVA Southern Finland - Estonia Sub-programme, efforts towards finding solutions to the tasks set by the EU were undertaken in co-operation with Finnish and Estonian researchers. The purpose of the From Waste to Traffic Fuel (W-Fuel) project was to promote the sustainable production and use of biogas using locally-sourced biodegradable waste materials from the food and beverage industry and the agricultural and municipal sectors. The ultimate aim of the project was to upgrade the biogas (produced based on anaerobic digestion of biodegradable wastes, sludge, manure, slurry and energy crops) to biomethane with a methane content similar to natural gas, to be further used as transport fuel with the aim of reducing traffic-borne emissions, in particular CO2. The project combined waste, energy and traffic solutions in order to decrease emissions, costs and the use of materials. Six case areas in southern Finland and northern Estonia were selected. The two case areas in Estonia were the counties of Harju and Lääne-Viru in northern Estonia. The project aimed to promote waste and sludge prevention and to commence biogas production and its subsequent upgrading to biomethane for use as a renewable fuel. The project promoted regional businesses and employment in waste treatment and green energy production. On basis of the gathered data, the biogas potentials and prerequisites of each case county were analysed. Furthermore, the environmental, economic and other regional effects of the different options were compared. By developing research-based feasibility plans, the project partners provided solutions for public and private companies, local governments and research institutes. The project was implemented in close co-operation with municipal waste and sewage companies as well as stakeholders in industry and the agricultural and transport sectors. This report presents the project results for Estonia.vokMTT Viestintä- ja informaatioryhm

The value of open-source clinical science in pandemic response: lessons from ISARIC

International audienc