The multivariate analysis application in creating the composite index of district development in the Republic of Serbia

One of the most important issues of economic policy of all countries is procuring a uniform economic development on entire territory. The regional unbalance of the degree of development among some territories in the Republic of Serbia constitutes one of the most complex development problems. Accentuated population decrease in some areas on one side, and large population and economy concentration in just a few cities on the other, produce negative effects on economic, social, spatial and ecological domain of the development of every country. One of the segments of this study will focus on the choice of indicators used for determining the degree of regional development and for comprehending the factors that determine a regional development. For the purpose of analyzing the differences in development of territorial units in the Republic of Serbia, in this particular case – the districts, a methodology for quantification of regional differences, from the aspect of a number of relevant criteria, was developed by compacting individual indicators into a composite index of development. The application of multivariate data analysis is of great importance in establishing the composite index, for the reason of getting an insight of correlations among variables (chosen indicators). It could include correlation analysis, regression analysis, factor analysis and others. In this dissertation, the emphasis will be placed on the factor analysis. The purpose of applying this method of multivariate analysis is that of determining whether different information, contained in the chosen district development indicators, is sufficiently balanced within the composite index. When aggregating indicators into a composite index, some weights (indicator weights) obtained based on factor analysis results will be added. The goal is that the weight of indicator weights corresponds to the relative importance of each variable (indicator) within the composite index. In this particular case, indicator weights would be the adequate factorial loading values obtained from factor analysis. After calculating the composite index for each district and its posterior analysis, the final result of this doctoral thesis would be the ranking of districts in the Republic of Serbia according to the values of the obtained composite index of development

The multivariate analysis application in creating the composite index of district development in the Republic of Serbia

One of the most important issues of economic policy of all countries is procuring a uniform economic development on entire territory. The regional unbalance of the degree of development among some territories in the Republic of Serbia constitutes one of the most complex development problems. Accentuated population decrease in some areas on one side, and large population and economy concentration in just a few cities on the other, produce negative effects on economic, social, spatial and ecological domain of the development of every country. One of the segments of this study will focus on the choice of indicators used for determining the degree of regional development and for comprehending the factors that determine a regional development. For the purpose of analyzing the differences in development of territorial units in the Republic of Serbia, in this particular case – the districts, a methodology for quantification of regional differences, from the aspect of a number of relevant criteria, was developed by compacting individual indicators into a composite index of development. The application of multivariate data analysis is of great importance in establishing the composite index, for the reason of getting an insight of correlations among variables (chosen indicators). It could include correlation analysis, regression analysis, factor analysis and others. In this dissertation, the emphasis will be placed on the factor analysis. The purpose of applying this method of multivariate analysis is that of determining whether different information, contained in the chosen district development indicators, is sufficiently balanced within the composite index. When aggregating indicators into a composite index, some weights (indicator weights) obtained based on factor analysis results will be added. The goal is that the weight of indicator weights corresponds to the relative importance of each variable (indicator) within the composite index. In this particular case, indicator weights would be the adequate factorial loading values obtained from factor analysis. After calculating the composite index for each district and its posterior analysis, the final result of this doctoral thesis would be the ranking of districts in the Republic of Serbia according to the values of the obtained composite index of development

Comparative analysis of the first permanent molars caries prevalence in younger and older school children

Introduction. The data on the health-condition of the first permanent molars among children in our region is scarce. Therefore, the need for more thorough analysis of the state of health of these teeth in the children from our region imposes itself, along with the need to determine the most critical period in which a significant increase in caries prevalence of these teeth takes place. Aim. The aim of the research was to perform a comparative analysis of the prevalence, average rate and structure of decay, missed and filled first permanent molars in the children of the younger school age in relation to those of the older school age. Material and methods. The research included 1.119 examinees, aged from 7 to 14 years. Examinees were divided into two groups according to their age: examinees of the younger school age and older school age. Dental check-up of the students was performed by means of a dental probe and mirror and the health condition of the examined teeth was registered by means of Klein-Palmer's DMF system. Results. The research determined high values of the examined parameters of the first permanent molars caries prevalence which increases with the age of the examinees. In the examinees of the age of 8, 9, and 10, statistically more significant values of the examined teeth caries prevalence parameters were registered, in relation to the examinees of seven years of age. In the examinees of the older school age, statistically significantly higher values were registered only for TCI and ACI and only in the examinees aged 14 in relation to the examinees aged 11. With the age, the percent of decay is decreases, while the percent of filled and extracted first permanent molars increases. Conclusion. Results show that the period between 7 and 10 years of age is the most critical and the most important period for the implementation of preventive-prophylactic measures aimed to preserve the health of the first permanent molars