The Influence of Latvian Labor Emigration Abroad on Latvia's Competitiveness

Today, as the world is becoming more global, countries are competing against each other on different terms. Country competitiveness depends on different factors that distinguish one nation from another. As labor force is a valuable asset for any nation, the emigration of it can affect the country in many ways, thus affecting the country's competitiveness. This thesis aimed to find out how Latvian labor force emigration to work abroad will affect Latvia and its competitiveness. Moreover, the thesis also strived to answer how competitive is Latvian economy, who are the people who emigrate from Latvia and what are their experiences, what are the possible consequences for this emigration of Latvian workforce, as well as how these consequences might affect Latvia's competitiveness? To be able to answer the above mentioned research questions quantitative and qualitative research methods were used. First, an Internet survey was made to collect data from Latvian emigrants who have gone to work abroad themselves. After that, a structured interview with researchers from Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, University of Latvia's project about emigration was conducted. The research found out that the emigration of Latvian workforce affects Latvian economy and its competitiveness both in positive and negative ways. The research found that the factors regarding emigration that influence Latvia's economy are: leaving of young and educated people, remittances sent back to Latvia, possible brain drain and brain waste, relief of Latvian economy as well as changing level of entrepreneurship and innovation in the country. The results also showed that emigration has a positive influence on the entrepreneurship in the country, thus improving Latvia's competitiveness among other countries.Tänään, koska maailma on yhä maailmanlaajuinen, maat kilpailevat toisiaan vastaan eri ehdoin. Maa kilpailukyky riippuu eri kertoimiin, jotka erottavat yhden kansakunnan toisesta. Koska työvoima on arvokas voimavara kaikille kansakunta, maastamuutto se voi vaikuttaa maan monin tavoin, mikä vaikuttaa maan kilpailukykyä. Opinnäytetyön tavoitteena oli selvittää, miten Latvian työvoiman maastamuutto työskennellä ulkomailla vaikuttaa Latvian ja sen kilpailukykyä. Lisäksi opinnäytetyön myös pyritty vastaamaan kuinka kilpailukykyinen on Latvian talous, jotka ovat ihmisiä, jotka muuttavat maasta Latvia ja mitkä ovat niiden kokemuksia, mitä mahdollisia seurauksia tälle maastamuuton Latvian työvoiman sekä miten nämä seuraukset voivat vaikuttaa Latvian kilpailukykyyn? Voidakseen vastata edellä mainitun tutkimuksen kysymyksiä määrällisiä ja laadullisia tutkimusmenetelmiä käytettiin. Ensinnäkin, Internet-kysely tehtiin kerätä tietoa Latvian siirtolaisten jotka ovat menneet ulkomaille töihin itse. Sen jälkeen, jäsennelty haastattelu tutkijoiden instituutin filosofian ja sosiologian University of Latvian projekti noin maastamuutto tehtiin. Tutkimuksessa kävi ilmi, että maastamuutto Latvian työvoimasta vaikuttaa Latvian talous ja sen kilpailukyky sekä myönteisiä että kielteisiä keinoja. Tutkimus havaitsi, että tekijät, maastamuutto, jotka vaikuttavat Latvian talous ovat: jätetään nuorten ja koulutettujen ihmisten, rahalähetykset takaisin Latviaan, mahdollinen aivovuoto ja aivotuhlauksen, helpotus Latvian talouden sekä muuttaa tason yrittäjyyden ja innovaatioiden maassa. Tulokset osoittivat myös, että maastamuutto on positiivinen vaikutus yrittäjyyteenyrittäjyyttä maassa, mikä parantaa Latvian kilpailukykyä muun maissa

INITIAL SCREENING OF FAST-GROWING TREE SPECIES BEING TOLERANT OF DRY TROPICAL PEATLANDS IN CENTRAL KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA

An investigation of the recruit, survivorship and growth of naturally regenerating tree species on canal bank was conducted to select tree species which are suitable for preceding planting in drained and burnt peat swamp lands in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Top of the canal bank were open, with greater soil moisture deficit and higher soil temperatures than on the next intact forest floor. The abundant trees were asam-asam (Ploiarium alternifolium),garunggang (Cratoxylon arborescens) and tumih (Combretocarpus rotundatus). New regeneration of these trees on the canal bank was confirmed during this investigation and mortality was very low. These results indicated that P. alternifolium,C. arborescens and C. rotundatuswere tolerant of intensive radiation, soil drought and high soil temperatures during germination. The annual height increments were 189-232 cm y-1 (P. alternifolium),118-289 cm y-1 (C. arborescens)and 27-255 cm y-1 (C. rotundatus); thus, these three species could be classified as fast-growing with tolerance to open and dry conditions. Such characteristics were important to avoid competition with herbs, ferns,and/ or climbers. The results·suggest that P.alternifolium,C. arborescens and C. rotundatusare suitable for preceding planting for the rehabilitation of the disturbed peat swamp forests of Central Kalimantan

Initial Screening of Fast-growing Tree Species Being Tolerant of Dry Tropical Peatlands in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

An investigation of the recruit, survivorship and growth of naturally regenerating tree species on canal bank was conducted to select tree species which are suitable for preceding planting in drained and burnt peat swamp lands in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Top of the canal bank were open, with greater soil moisture deficit and higher soil temperatures than on the next intact forest floor. The abundant trees were asam-asam (Ploiarium alternifolium),garunggang (Cratoxylon arborescens) and tumih (Combretocarpus rotundatus). New regeneration of these trees on the canal bank was confirmed during this investigation and mortality was very low. These results indicated that P. alternifolium,C. arborescens and C. rotundatuswere tolerant of intensive radiation, soil drought and high soil temperatures during germination. The annual height increments were 189-232 cm y-1 (P. alternifolium),118-289 cm y-1 (C. arborescens)and 27-255 cm y-1 (C. rotundatus); thus, these three species could be classified as fast-growing with tolerance to open and dry conditions. Such characteristics were important to avoid competition with herbs, ferns,and/ or climbers. The results·suggest that P.alternifolium,C. arborescens and C. rotundatusare suitable for preceding planting for the rehabilitation of the disturbed peat swamp forests of Central Kalimantan

Difference in uprooting resistance among coniferous species planted in soils of volcanic origin

Uprooting resistance against wind force for coniferous plantations in soils of volcanic origin was studied. The difference in uprooting resistance among Abies sachalinensis, Picea jezoensis, and Larix kaempferi was discussed. The sample site was set in Chitose plantations in Hokkaido Japan, where typhoon 0418 caused fatal uprooting damage in 2004. An uproot resistance index—the ratio of the geometrical moment of area for uprooted root-plate to the moment susceptibility to wind force—was defined to quantify relative uprooting resistance against wind force. It was calculated from the dimensional measurements for the tree forms and root-plates of 100 uprooted sample trees after the typhoon attack. As a result, the uprooting resistance for Picea jezoensis, which was less damaged among the sample species, was estimated to be greater than those for the other two species

The water relation of seedlings of Picea jezoensis on fallen logs

We examined whether fallen logs without moss (FLB) are more drought-stressful sites for Picea jezoensis Carr. seedlings than are logs with moss (FLM) and whether drought affects the mortality of seedlings on logs. We measured the water potential of the log humus layer (Psi(H)) and needles of seedlings on the logs (Psi(N)) in a natural forest and a greenhouse under various drought conditions. We also determined the critical Psi(N) from the relationship between seedling mortality, Psi(N), and chlorophyll fluorescence, Fv/Fm. The Psi(H) on both moss-covered and bare logs in the forest was 0 MPa, regardless of the number of days without precipitation. In the forest, the mean predawn Psi(N) of FLB and FLM measured 11 days after a rainfall was -0.8 and -0.7 MPa, respectively, in the driest season. The Psi(N) for P. jezoensis seedlings of FLB reached the critical value earlier than those of FLM in the greenhouse, but this occurred after a long period (> 30 days) with no irrigation. We conclude that drought does not cause mortality of P. jezoensis seedlings on fallen logs in natural forest

Damage to Abies koreana seeds by soil-borne fungi on Mount Halla, Korea

Abies koreana Wilson is an endemic tree species that is facing critical population declines in Korea. To identify factors affecting the natural regeneration of A. koreana, we examined the role of seed pathogens in the overwintering survival of seeds in natural seedbeds on Mount Halla, Korea. In September 2003, seeds of A. koreana were placed on seedbeds in the following three types of sites: Sasa dominated, shaded by rocks, or forest floor; seeds were then recovered from beneath the snow cover in April 2004 and were analyzed for the occurrence of harmful microfungi. Racodium therryanum Thuem. was the fungus most often isolated from retrieved seeds and was also the most detrimental of the eight fungal species tested in a pathogenicity trial. In vitro, R. therryanum caused a total loss of germination ability in A. koreana seeds at 0 °C after 100 days. The infection rate of R. therryanum was negatively correlated with the seed germination rate. The infection rate of R. therryanum was highest on the forest floor and increased with the duration of snow cover. The occurrence of R. therryanum was temporally restricted to the period of snow cover and spatially to the thick A0 soil layer on the forest floor. This study suggests that R. therryanum may be a significant factor inhibiting the natural regeneration of A. koreana at the seed stage. Abies koreana Wilson est une espèce d’arbre indigène dont la population décline de façon inquiétante en Corée. Dans le but d’identifier les facteurs qui affectent la régénération naturelle d’A. koreana, nous avons étudié le rôle des pathogènes qui affectent les graines dans la survie des semences après qu’elles aient passé l’hiver dans des lits de germination naturels sur le mont Halla, en Corée. En septembre 2003, des graines d’A. koreana ont été placées sur des lits de germination dans les trois types suivants de sites : dominé par Sasa, à l’ombre de rochers ou sur le parterre forestier. Les graines ont ensuite été récupérées sous le couvert de neige en avril 2004 et examinées pour détecter la présence de champignons microscopiques nocifs. Racodium therryanum Thuem. est le champignon qui a été le plus souvent isolé des graines récupérées et ce champignon était également le plus nuisible des huit champignons testés dans un test de pathogénicité. In vitro, R. therryanum a causé la perte totale du pouvoir de germination des graines d’A. koreana après 100 jours à 0 °C. Le taux d’infection par R. therryanum était négativement corrélé au taux de germination des graines. Le taux d’infection par R. therryanum était le plus élevé sur le parterre forestier et augmentait avec la durée du couvert de neige. L’occurrence de R. therryanum était restreinte dans le temps à la période durant laquelle il y avait un couvert de neige et dans l’espace à l’épais horizon A0 du sol sur le parterre forestier. Cette étude indique que R. therryanum peut être un facteur significatif en inhibant la régénération d’A. koreana dès le stade de la semence