Economic consciousness and the system of values of Latvian university graduates

The article analyses the attitude of a Latvian university’s graduates to wealth and means of its acquisition, as well as their assessment of their own economic status and preferred moves in case of unemployment. The author estimates the university graduates’ personal capabilities; their interests, skills and qualifications, the extent of their reliance on their own initiative and resources, and their confidence about the future. The article defines the graduates’ economic interests forming motivations and approaches to practical economic behavior according to certain types of economic consciousness

Russians in Latvia: peculiarities of socio-cultural adaptation and identity

The author identifies trends and variations of the socio-cultural identity and integration of Russians in Latvia. According to the author, since the middle 1990s, two trends have been recognized - first, the 'ingrowing' of ethnic Russians into the life of independent Latvia, and second, forming their new identity. The article presents a number of factors hampering the integration of ethnic Russians into Latvian society. Variations and options of socio-cultural identity and integration (or assimilation) of the Russian population of Latvia are shown

Processes of convergence and divergence in the regions of the European Union: features and qualimetry

A higher level of unity and cohesion across the European Union member states is an important aspect of European integration though it has a rather ambiguous nature. The Law on the Common Market, which aims to increase the economic efficiency of the EU, became a subject of extensive discussions among researchers suggesting that its viability at the political and socio-economic levels depends on a fair distribution of gains among the countries and regions of the Community. These discussions resulted in a considerable increase in funding allocated for the development of the EU regions from the EU Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund aiming to reduce regional disparities. The present analysis and the assessment of convergence processes (GDP per capita at purchasing power parity) in the EU regions of NUTS-1, -2, -3 levels in 1995 -2009/2010 help demonstrate the efficiency of these efforts

Population replacement in Latvia: current state and prospects

This article analyses fertility rate trends in Latvia over a medium-term period of 53 years, from 1970 to 2022, aiming to predict the immediate prospects for population replacement. The novelty of this interdisciplinary research, which encompasses demography, mathematics, economics and sociology, lies in applying mathematical analysis to the study of socio-demographic processes, which has not been attempted before by Latvian or international researchers. Moreover, this study is the first to draw on the theory of economic cycles to identify demographic cycles and their phases in Latvia and predict the near-term birth rate in Latvia. Furthermore, analysing comparative data from 2004 and 2022 sociological surveys cast light on the principal cause of Latvia's declining fertility rate. This shift is due to changes in societal values, where the family and children no longer hold a central place, which is particularly true of women in Latvia. Consumerism-driven value changes have ceased to be a sine qua non of achieving their life goals and ambitions. Facilitating an increase in the fertility rate would require considering Latvian society’s values and pursuing socioeconomic policies that comprise both internal measures, such as increasing residents' financial security, and external initiatives, including neighbourliness promotion. Latvia's fertility rates will continue to decline for several more years until the trough of the following demographic cycle is reached, which will be lower than that of the previous cycle. There will be an upturn within the linear downward trend in birth rates - but even this anticipated rise will not reach the earlier peak. Thus, as the findings of the study suggest, the projected increase in Latvia's total fertility rate to 1.77 children per woman, as envisioned by the FAMILY - LATVIA - 2030 (2050) Population Reproduction Strategy, is practically unattainable by 2027

Artificial Intelligence: a catalyst for entrepreneurship education in the Baltics

The article explores the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in entrepreneurship education within universities. This exploration is set against the backdrop of the rapid and widespread integration of AI technologies across economic and other domains of life. The authors aim to define the concept of ‘entrepreneurial potential’ and elucidate the contribution of AI in augmenting the entrepreneurial potential among university students in the Baltic States. To achieve this goal, the authors employ a range of methods, including comparative analysis, analogy, generalization, classification, and structural-functional analysis, among others. These methodologies are integrated within an interdisciplinary framework, enabling a comprehensive investigation of the subject matter. The comparative analysis of university entrepreneurship education in the Baltic States demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses inherent in the notion of entrepreneurial potential. This study also considers the impact of academic mobility in the modern world, characterized by rapid and dynamic shifts in technology, markets, and business models. The study concludes that proficiency in working with AI-powered equipment and algorithms is of paramount importance in amplifying the entrepreneurial potential of students in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. This aspect is increasingly gaining attention from universities, which collaborate closely with the business sector, governmental bodies, and regional agencies to provide diverse forms of support to aspiring business students. The final part of the article addresses issues that require more active and innovative participation of academia in activities enhancing the role of student youth in the economic development of their countries and regions

Internal stresses and structure of multilayer coatings on the basis of Zr-Y-O / Si-Al-N

X-ray and TEM research of the structure of multilayered coatings consisting of the alternating layers Si-Al-N and Zr-Y-O of equal thickness are carried out. It is shown that the boundaries between different layers are sharp enough, and the chemical composition in each layer is homogeneous. The phase composition of the layers on the basis of Zr-Y-O contains basicallynanocrystalline ZrO2 and the layers on the basis of Si-Al-N contain Si3N4 amorphous phase. The internal field of stresses is determined by X-ray and TEM analyses. It is established that thecrystal lattice curvaturetorsion and the internal elastic stresses depend on the grain cross-section size of the Zr-Y-O layer

The fine structure of coatings on the basis Ni-Al formed by the magnetron method

Phase composition, fine structure and surface morphology of intermetallic coatings are investigated by X-ray analysis and TEM. It is shown that Ni[3]Al is the main phase of the intermetallic coating for all the investigated samples. There is a Ni-Al phase in the samples of the first type. Three types of grains, differing in size, are discovered in the structure of nanocrystalline coatings: dislocation free, dislocation, and fragmented. The internal stresses, obtained by TEM and X-ray analysis, have close values

Internal stresses and structure of multilayer coatings on the basis of Zr-Y-O / Si-Al-N

X-ray and TEM research of the structure of multilayered coatings consisting of the alternating layers Si-Al-N and Zr-Y-O of equal thickness are carried out. It is shown that the boundaries between different layers are sharp enough, and the chemical composition in each layer is homogeneous. The phase composition of the layers on the basis of Zr-Y-O contains basicallynanocrystalline ZrO2 and the layers on the basis of Si-Al-N contain Si3N4 amorphous phase. The internal field of stresses is determined by X-ray and TEM analyses. It is established that thecrystal lattice curvaturetorsion and the internal elastic stresses depend on the grain cross-section size of the Zr-Y-O layer

Киотский протокол и активность России: механизмы сокращения выбросов парниковых газов

The problem of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is discused. In the second half of the XX century, several schemes have been proposed to create a market mechanism in the context of this problem. Efforts to find economic ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions even more intensified in the last decade of the XX century, and finally the Kyoto Protocol offered several flexible market mechanisms aimed at a partial solution to the problem of emissions. Despite all these efforts, during the first period of application of these mechanisms (2008-2012), carbon emissions have increased. The article deals with the mechanisms and projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Russia, and their importance in the context of the obligations of the Kyoto Protocol and other international instruments. (В статье рассматривается проблема сокращения выбросов парниковых газов. Во второй половине XX века было предложено несколько схем для создания рыночного механизма в контексте решения этой проблемы. Усилия по поиску экономических путей сокращения выбросов парниковых газов еще более активизировались в последнем десятилетии XX века, и наконец, Киотский Протокол предложил несколько гибких рыночных механизмов, направленных на частичное решение проблемы выбросов. Несмотря на все эти усилия, в течение первого периода применения этих механизмов (2008–2012), выбросы углерода возросли. В статье рассматриваются механизмы и проекты по сокращению выбросов парниковых газов в России, и их важность в разрезе выполнения обязательств Киотского Протокола и других международных документов.

Киотский протокол и активность России: механизмы сокращения выбросов парниковых газов

The problem of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is discused. In the second half of the XX century, several schemes have been proposed to create a market mechanism in the context of this problem. Efforts to find economic ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions even more intensified in the last decade of the XX century, and finally the Kyoto Protocol offered several flexible market mechanisms aimed at a partial solution to the problem of emissions. Despite all these efforts, during the first period of application of these mechanisms (2008-2012), carbon emissions have increased. The article deals with the mechanisms and projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Russia, and their importance in the context of the obligations of the Kyoto Protocol and other international instruments. (В статье рассматривается проблема сокращения выбросов парниковых газов. Во второй половине XX века было предложено несколько схем для создания рыночного механизма в контексте решения этой проблемы. Усилия по поиску экономических путей сокращения выбросов парниковых газов еще более активизировались в последнем десятилетии XX века, и наконец, Киотский Протокол предложил несколько гибких рыночных механизмов, направленных на частичное решение проблемы выбросов. Несмотря на все эти усилия, в течение первого периода применения этих механизмов (2008–2012), выбросы углерода возросли. В статье рассматриваются механизмы и проекты по сокращению выбросов парниковых газов в России, и их важность в разрезе выполнения обязательств Киотского Протокола и других международных документов.