Challenges For Economic Growth Of Regions In The Baltic Sea Region

The Baltic Sea region is one of the most socially, economically and technologically developed regions in the world. The region has a high GDP level, limited social inequality in a global context, leading positions in Doing Business and Global Competitiveness indeces. Meanwhile, the region is experiencing rapid aging of society and depopulation of the territories, the region internally has large differences in the development of human capital and productivity rates. The eastern part of the region is expressively dependent on one supplier's power resources; it is experiencing the largest fall as a result of the global economic crisis; and has high unemployment and poverty rates. One of the most prosperous and sustainable macro-regions in the world is facing high challenges in development of balanced and sustainable socio-economic structure inside it. The report analyzes which factors have promoted or hampered the growth of the regions (at NUTS3 level) of Baltic countries; and what areas of development play a crucial role for further growth. Therefore perspective policy intervention areas for promotion of the region's sustainable economic growth are analysed, - implementation of integrated development planning practice; exploration of advantages of modern regional governance practice; strengthening of business and innovation capacity at the regional level. By using the approach and methodology developed by OECD in the analysis of regional growth factors, calculations have been made about the comparative rates of the 3 Baltic countries - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. For the basis of the analysis, 6 indicators were used describing GDP growth, productivity, employment and population. The comparative growth speeds of the regions were analyzed over a period of several years. Results of the analysis clearly demonstrate the impact left by the global economic crisis on the economy of the regions. It also demonstrates failures of the selected and enforced government's regional policy based on subsidies to support development of infrastructure in the lagging regions of Latvia. The tendencies indicate specific policy implications. The best results may be achieved by combining different possibilities existing in the regions and by using modern and innovative management tools.

The Baltic Sea Region is rapidly becoming one of the world’s more competitive regions. The region is capitalising on its strengths and making the most of its diversity to stimulate innovation, build a strong pool of skilled labour and foster ...

The changing dynamics in the European region and beyond, the unfolding political-economic challenges across the European Union, and the rising global power of emerging economic powers require knowledge, skills, and methodological platforms inducing strategies and operations in the new and ever-changing business landscape. Geo-Regional Competitiveness in Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic Countries, and Russia seeks to address East Central Europe’s (ECE), the Baltics’, and Russia’s increasingly important roles as emerging markets and competitive economic players in the European region. This premier reference work is designated for scholars, professionals, government agencies, think tanks, and other individuals, organizations, and institutions interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the geo-regional strategic business dynamics and landscape involving ECE, the Baltics, and Russia.

This book explores environmental challenges in the Baltic region from an economic perspective. Featuring contributions from regional experts from Nordic, Baltic and Eastern European countries it addresses the response to eutrophication caused by increased loads of nutrients to the sea from agriculture, wastewater, industry and traffic, and cost-effective solutions to reach the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) targets, set up through the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM). Contributions also explore the environmental impacts of rural landscape change during the post-communist period in the Baltic Sea region and a review of the ex-post evaluations of the costs and benefits generated by Baltic Sea nutrient abatement policies. Public policies towards marine protection, wind power establishment, and attitudes to paying for environmental protection, environmental resilience and the international cooperation in the Baltic region are also discussed.

The Baltic macroregion is a platform for the development of different areas of international cooperation, which are an important factor affecting the socioeconomic growth of the region’s states. The deteriorating political relations between Russia and its Baltic neighbours complicate the development of mutual connections. However, economic and sociocultural cooperation and joint environmental projects continue despite all the difficulties. Based on recent studies carried out by Russian and Polish researchers, this book examines current trends in the socioeconomic development of the region’s countries and various forms of transboundary cooperation and provides recommendations for further development. Special attention is paid to sustainable environmental management and environmental protection, transboundary ties among companies and among people, the development of international tourism, opportunities for reinforcing the contact function of the border, and spatial planning. The book addresses theoretical problems that are of crucial significance to economic development and transboundary cooperation, namely, those of path dependence, the emerge.

The Baltic Sea Region, at the crossroads between East and West, North and South, has long been marked by cultural, ethnical and ideological borders. Overcoming a history of conflict and separation, since the end of the Cold War the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea established widely valued formats of regional cooperation based on shared challenges and opportunities. In comparison with larger regions, however, the Baltic Sea Area is still a blank spot on the global map. This volume's intention is to fill this spot with colour and facts. It provides students, young researchers and other interested parties with basic knowledge of the region. The volume offers a comprehensive introduction into its history, politics, economy and culture, taking into account the various countries' commonalities and differences. By introducing concepts of regionalism and region-building, as well as analysing the structures of regional cooperation the authors and editors demonstrate the Baltic Sea Area's model function as a European macro-region.--Back cover.

Volume 9 of the Baltic Sea Academy Series: Demographic and economic structural change affect the development of the whole Baltic Sea Region in the future. Coping with these challenges requires initiatives aiming at labour market issues. A shrinking and ageing labour force entails the danger of shortage of labour supply in general while demand for skilled labour increases in the course of knowledge-based structural change. There are large potentials for the Baltic Sea Region to strengthen its competitiveness by better tapping its human resources. Among these an advanced integration of women in the labour market is at the top of the agenda. This book analyses the current economic and demographic structures in the Baltic Sea Region and assesses the development perspectives. In this context, it shapes the educational attainment and labour market involvement of women and points to considerable hidden potentials. The Baltic Sea Academy is a non-profit network of 16 colleges and universities focusing on Education, Qualification and R&D for small and medium sized enterprises.

The Nordic-Baltic region has become highly integrated. The Nordic countries have been successful in balancing competitiveness and economic growth with social inclusiveness, while the Baltic States have grown economically but remain vulnerable with weak social systems and highly unequal income distribution. European Union (EU) membership and inter-linkages with the continental Nordic banking systems appear to have affected the 2008/09 crisis response of the Baltic States. In spite of their strengths, including their social systems, continental Nordic states are faced with a challenging mix of large, cross-border banks and highly indebted households at a time of rather weak global growth. The Baltic States are challenged by slow economic growth post-crisis, security concerns, and large-scale outward migration of the youngest and most highly educated people. It is now a decade since the Baltic States were hit by the global crisis. It is time to take stock of their progress and assess their relations with other countries in the region and with the EU. This book focuses on the Baltics and their Nordic partners pre- and post-crisis: successes, failures, lessons learned, and future challenges, examining and comparing the crisis response of these various small states that enjoy different income levels, operate different welfare and tax systems, and seek different levels of integration with the EU.

HauptbeschreibungGo North was the programmatic title of an international conference on Baltic Sea Region Studies that took place at Humboldt University of Berlin from April 4-6, 2005. It was hosted by the BalticStudyNet project, which is part of the European Union's Erasmus Mundus programme for the global promotion of European higher education. In order to discuss the past, present and future of Baltic Sea Region Studies, the Berlin conference brought together about fifty government representatives and scholars from all Baltic Sea Region countries, including Russia, as well as from the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the USA, Canada, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. The basic idea of the Go North conference was to encourage a fundamental change of perspective - away from intra-regional and towards extra-regional and truly global approaches to the Baltic Sea Region: How is the Baltic Sea region perceived when viewed, let's say, from Australia? What, if anything, would a Chinese student find typical, extraordinary, or even unique when looking at the region? Why should a scholar from Mexico, South Africa or India wish to do research in and/or about the Baltic Sea Region? Consequently, third country views on Europe's North and the Baltic Sea Region were a feature of many of the presentations and panel discussions during the conference, which are documented in this volume.