research programme for 2016-2020 improving life quality ... · 1. the purpose of the research...
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Updates approved by the Senate of
Mykolas Romeris University
on 19 April 2018
Resolution No 1SN-31
RESEARCH PROGRAMME FOR 2016-2020
IMPROVING LIFE QUALITY AND ENHANCING
EMPLOYMENT POSSIBILITIES
Vilnius, 2018
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CONTENTS
I. ANALYTICAL REVIEW.......................................................................................................... 3
II. AIM, RESEARCH TOPICS, OBJECTIVES, MEASURES OF IMPLEMENTATION,
EXPECTED QUALITATIVE RESULTS....................................................................................32
III. EXPECTED QUANTITATIVE RESULTS...........................................................................53
IV. POTENTIAL COOPERATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS....................................58
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RESEARCH PROGRAMME IS IMPLEMENTED BY:
Faculty of Economics and Business Management
Institute of Education Science and Social Work
Institute of Psychology
Life Quality Laboratory
Gender Research Laboratory
Psychological Well-being Laboratory
Environmental Psychology Research Cente
Sociological Research Laboratory
Life-long Learning Laboratory
RESEARCH PROGRAMME WAS PREPARED AND UPDATED 2018 IN
ACCORDANCE WITH:
The Europe 2020 Strategy
The European Commission Justice Programme
The EU Programme Europe for Citizens 2016-2020
The EU Programme Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme 2014-2020
Lithuania’s Progress Strategy Lithuania 2030
Programme of the 17th Government
National Progress Programme for Lithuania for the Period 2014–2020
National Programme for the Development of Studies, Scientific Research and
Experimental (Social and Cultural) Development for 2013–2020
Provisions for the Lithuanian Science and Innovation Policy Change, 2016
Resolution adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania on the Plan of
Optimizing the Network of State Universities, 2017
The European Commission Renewed EU Agenda for Higher Education, 2017
The European Commission New Skills Agenda for Europe, 2016
The European Commission Assessment of Progress on Structural Reforms, 2017
OECD Reviews of National Policies of Education – Education in Lithuania, 2017
OECD Review of Education 2017, OECD indicators
OECD Economic Survey of Lithuania, 2016
UN Sustainable Development Goals.
I. ANALYTICAL REVIEW
1. The purpose of the research programme Improving Life Quality and Enhancing Employment
Possibilities to carry out complex research related to the improvement life quality and enhancement of
employment possibilities.
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Universal monetary methods based on the priorities of monetary and fiscal policy has recently
increased disappointment in Europe and the world. The mainstream economic paradigm is also
changing: the radical liberal consensus Washington doctrine criticised by the experts of global economy
and the Nobel Prize laureates is gradually pushed out by modern attitude putting a human at the centre
of economic processes. Different from monetary attitude and technocratic practice (which is so popular
and deep-rooted in Lithuania), when the market economy quasi circumvents an individual, in the leading
countries of the European Union, e.g. Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Scandinavian countries and
Switzerland, economic reforms are more orientated towards the objectives which all society is striving
to achieve. These objectives are vital for the majority of the population, i.e. the interests of mass social
stratification – complete employment and high quality of life. It is believed that only considering the
priorities of social objectives it is possible to create powerful grounds for the growth of economy, the
modernisation of business, the enhancement of national competitiveness and simultaneously create a
stable source of revenue for the state budget.
This provision is also confirmed by the world experience. In 2008, by the initiative of the French
president Nicolas Sarkozy the Commission of the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social
Progress was set up headed by the Nobel Prize laureate, ex-president of the World Bank, Professor of
Columbia University Joseph Stiglitz. (Among the members of this Commission were well-known
people: economist, Nobel Prize laureate, Professor of Harvard University Amartya Sen and Professor
of the Institute of Political Sciences Professor Jean Paul Fitoussi). The conclusion presented in the report
of the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress1 can be viewed
like a challenge to the current system of indicators assessing social-economic development. GND,
inflation and the budget deficit are not reflecting the actual economic situation of the country; its real
status and the efficiency of national policy are shown by the indicators of social welfare and the quality
of life of the population. Therefore, while assessing the social economic status of the country, it is
important to transfer the centre of gravity into the indicators of the welfare and the quality of
people lives.
The most significant conclusion of the authoritative Commission is the recommendation to
apply the system of indicators reflecting people’s welfare instead of statistics orientated towards
1 Stiglitz J. E., Sen A., Fitoussi J.-P. Report by the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and
Social Progress. Paris: Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress, 2010, 292
p.: http://www.stiglitz-sen-fitoussi.fr/documents/rapport_anglais.pdf
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profit and finances. This system encompasses the following dimensions: labour and employment,
material level of living, health, education, inclusion in government decision-making, social links and
participation in the community, living environment as well as physical and economic security.
In 2015, the Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to the British researcher Angus Deaton for
the contribution to the analysis of Consumption, Poverty and Welfare. Deaton’s methodological attitude
is based on the data of an individual’s experience and household behaviour. According to the researcher,
it enables to achieve more significant results than standardised models of macroeconomics. The
researcher has come up to the conclusion that while seeking to create efficient consumption policy
which would encourage welfare and reduce poverty, first of all it is necessary to perceive the
principles of consumption on the level of an individual as well as on the level of wealthy and poor
households. The research of the problems of individual consumption made the researcher analyse
closely related welfare and health issues. The perception of separate mechanisms of the choice of
consumers’ consumption facilitates the development of economic policy encouraging the welfare of
society and the decrease of poverty.
The ideas of the enhancement of welfare are closely related to the principal provisions of the
strategy of the European Union Europe 2020 the meaning of which comes to the fact that the country’s
economic success can be achieved and implemented only having a strong social foundation. Social
and economic cohesion is an important priority of the EU economic enlargement dedicated to the
reduction of social and economic differences among social groups, EU regions and member states.
In accordance with the programme Horizon 2020, seeking to induce the growth of economy and
establish workplaces, the European Commission will invest 80 billion EUR in scientific research and
innovations. The financing will be given for three main objectives: to strengthen the position of the EU
as the leader in science, to insure the leadership in industrial innovation, to invest in main technologies,
to increase the possibilities of financing and support of small and medium-sized enterprises and to
resolve actual and important problems in six main spheres:
health, demographic changes and welfare;
food security and the development of organic agriculture;
ensuring safe, ecological and efficient energy;
smart, environmentally friendly and integrated transport;
climate change;
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inclusive, innovative and secure society.
The EU membership induces Lithuania to essentially, not formally, perceive the quality of life
as the key indicator of the efficiency of economic policy in the development of the country; it is
confirmed by significant strategic documents adopted in Lithuania (National Progress Strategy 2030,
etc.). The sixteenth Government of the Republic of Lithuania in its 2012-2016 programme emphasizes
that its main objective is to create welfare state so that the people of Lithuania would feel dignified,
safe and happy.
Lithuanian researchers R. Lazutka, B. Gruževskis, V. Kanopienė, A Matulionis, L. Dromantienė,
A. Bitinas, J. Aidukaitė, A. Šileika and others have significantly contributed to the research on social
development while not much attention was given to life quality of the population, its measurement and
evaluation. The growth of macroeconomic indicators frequently does not turn into welfare of society
and does not improve the quality of life of the majority of the population – the middle class and separate
social groups. Therefore, while evaluating the economic status of the country, it is suggested to apply
the system of indicators reflecting the quality of the population instead of the statistics orientated
towards the achievements of macro-economy. In this context, Lithuania lacks systematically
performed research of the quality of life, which comprehensively, not fragmentally, reflects the trends
and problems of the development of the quality of life of the population.
2. Having implemented this programme, first, the development of employment and the quality of
life will be systematically analysed as well as the most serious problems demanding urgent solution will
be raised. Comprehensive scientific analysis, innovative methods and forecasting will allow to
determine the obstacles and causes as well as suggest efficient ways of removing them in the future - in
strategic perspective - for efficient improvement of the quality of life and the encouragement of
employment and reduction of social economic inequality. Second, in order to be aware of these
processes, the analogies of experience of foreign countries or individual and fragmented research works
are not sufficient. This programme unites researchers from different backgrounds aiming to eliminate
or decrease the level of unemployment, emigration, social economic inequality, dissatisfaction with the
governmental solutions an while forecasting the ways of improving the quality of life. This programme
encourages researchers for joint action and raise the research level in the area.
Third, this programme will contribute to the revitalisation of Lithuanian research and the
restoration of the prestige of researchers who undervalued and not demanded in the market economy.
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Overcoming these negative phenomena is significant not only for the theory of Lithuanian research but
also for economy. Fourth, this programme will be beneficial while formulating concrete suggestions
and recommendations for the Lithuanian government, state institutions implementing the policy of
employment and the increase of the quality of life and developing the strategy; simultaneously it will
contribute to the enhancement of the validity and efficiency of economic decisions of the state.
3. The essence and content of the programme is reflected by the systematic concept of the
quality of life. It should be emphasised that in the programme the employment problem is analysed
inseparably from the quality of life, as one of the constituent and most important parts of this
field.
First, the quality of life is determined by economic, political, legal, social and psychological
factors, i.e. it is directly or indirectly influenced by economic (macroeconomic and microeconomic),
social, demographic and family, health and environmental protection and education policies carried out
by the state. The quality of life as a sphere of human activity, related to the fulfilment of material and
spiritual needs, depends on the level of the development of national economy; simultaneously it
influences the economic development providing a boost to economic growth. In this context, the most
significant is the social - economic model chosen by the state, i.e. the path along which of the state is
going; it is reflected in national economic policy on the macro and micro level, social policy,
demographic and family, health protection, education, science and cultural policies.
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Figure 1. Systematic concept of the quality of life
QUALITY OF LIFE
III. EDUCATION, CULTURE, SYSTEM OF MORAL-
ETHICAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUES
Education,
science
I. HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF POPULATION
II. MATERIAL WELFARE AND ECONOMIC SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENT
Social environment and
social relations
Home and living
environment
Demographic status
development of
population
Culture and the status of moral,
spiritual and ethical values
Employment
Security (physical,
legal)
Consumption
Psychological welfare,
happiness
Health,
physical
status
Income (level and
differenciation)
Gen
der
Eq
uali
ty
HEALTH POLICY
DEMOGRAPHIC
AND FAMILY
POLICY
STATE
ECONOMIC
POLICY:
MACRO-
ECONOMIC AND
MICRO-
ECONOMIC
POLICY
INCOME POLICY
SOCIAL AND
LABOUR POLICY
EDUCATION AND
CULTURAL
POLICY
POLITICAL
SYSTEM
SOCIAL AND
STATE
PROVISIONS AND
VALUES
Objective
evaluation
Subjective
evaluation
Index of
quality of
life
according
to
statistical
data
Index of
quality of
life
Accordin
g to social
opinion
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According to the research of foreign authors and the attempts to define the essence and content of
the quality of life, the authors of the research programme suggest a concept of the equality of life
based on the systematic concept of the quality of life and emphasize the following assumptions.
Life quality is a concept which reflects the degree of the fulfilment of demographic
and health as well as healthy environment, material, cultural and spiritual needs, this
degree being measured by the macro level (countrywide) and the micro level (from
the standpoint of an individual).
The authors emphasize that while analysing the quality of life of the population, it is
imperative to take into account people’s need to fulfil their creative abilities, to express
themselves and to realise their potential.
The perception of the quality of our life differs from the widespread consumer perception
based on the model of a human being as a universal consumer. A human being is not only
a consumer of goods and services but also a creator – not only a developer of those
goods and services but also the creator of his life and personality.
The suggested concept emphasises the significance of non-economic factors for the
development of human welfare and economic growth. The quality of life reflects not only
material factors (the increase of material goodness is not an essential factor of the quality
of life) but also the preservation of health and the quality of environment, psychological
well-being, the feeling of satisfaction with life and happiness, the quality of education,
strengthening of communal relations, development of social capital, civic awareness,
nurture of culture, moral ethical and spiritual values.
In this context, first, an exceptional influence of societal and human culture,
established moral ethical norms, i.e. the system of values, on the quality of life, is
emphasized. Second, the indicators of psychological self-perception, satisfaction with life
and feeling of happiness into the concept of the quality of life as very important and
innovative factors of the quality of life are introduced.
The authors suggest a systematic concept of the quality of life, comprehensively
defining, first, health- psychological and ecological, second, economic-material and, third,
cultural and moral social status and development.
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The concept of the quality of life is extremely wide and comprehensive; therefore, it is rather
difficult to define it by a system of indicators. The more intensive internationalisation and
globalisation processes are, the more complex this concept becomes. Every individual can give
their own meaningful shade to the quality of life; however, in science, the quality of life is a
concept, expressed by concrete indicators, measured and related to social welfare in a particular
country. While seeking to evaluate the state of the quality of life of the population, one of the tasks
is to develop a system of indicators of the quality of life and the criteria of evaluation.
The quality of life, as a sphere of human activity associated with the fulfilment of material and
spiritual needs, depends on external factors – the level of national economy and its growth,
simultaneously it influences the economic development providing a boost to economic growth. In
addition, state policy – health security, family, demographic policy, economic policy, international
environment, education, cultural policies as well as the provisions and values of the society itself
- have an influence on separate spheres of the quality of life.
The levers of the quality of life are primarily economic resources (GNP part intended for
consumption) also consumption, availability of consumer goods (goods and services) according
to separate groups of the population (social groups, women, and men, etc.), it is also the protection
of people’s health, psychological status and the protection of environment, education and
established moral ethical norms. They are essential indices of the quality of life.
Pursuant to the systematic concept of the quality of life presented by the authors, a possibility
to evaluate and measure the quality of life emerges while developing a system of indices of the
quality of life. The total number of the indices of the quality of life consists of three main groups.
The first group of the indices of the quality of life includes the indices of an individual’s
physical and psychological health as well as demographic indices. It is the average life
expectancy, birth and mortality rates, the indices of the reproduction of the population (child birth,
their number), marital status or the extent of population emigration. There may be such additional
indices as sickness and disability rate, the stability of the family institute, the number of marriages,
etc.
The second group of the indices of the quality of life covers the indices of the standard of
living of the population or the material status. One of the foundational constituent parts of
material welfare is work and employment. The resources of consumption as the result of
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production are goods and services intended for consumption; they are a source of the welfare of
life which constitutes part of GNP intended for consumption (70-90 percent of GNP). The real
level and structure of consumption depends on how much goods and services are available to
different social groups and strata, which depends on the salary and the level of income, on the
differentiation (distribution) of income as well as on savings, real estate, housing and living
environment, etc.
An innovative accent of the programme is the link between economy and psychology which
is reflected by the research of satisfaction with life and happiness depending on the income
level of the population. Here the programme will investigate the links of psychological well-
being not only with the characteristics and psychological capital of the respondents but will also
analyse emotional well-being of the population, satisfaction with life, happiness and its relation to
the level of income.
The third aspect indicating the quality of life is a system of indices of education, culture
and moral-ethical values. It is a relatively new aspect of research in the context of the quality of
life.
Culture is one of the main concepts not only of society (sociology) but also of economy. Public
culture covers two aspects: non-material ones, such as beliefs, ideas and values which constitute
the content of culture, and material ones, i.e. objects or technologies which embody this content
of culture (Giddens, 2004). The foundation of all cultures is ideas, defining what is important,
valuable or desirable for society. It is these ideas that are the values which give the meaning and
direction to the people: “what direction to live" or “what is the meaning of life ".
In the world, culture is perceived as an economic concept. First, there is no morality without
culture. And bad morality also leads to a "bad", inefficient economy. First, a highly educated and
cultured professional, disposes of qualitative “non-tangible“ resources – knowledge, competence,
intellect, professionalism, high spiritual and moral values which in knowledge economy are valued
more than material resources; second, such an individual creates a high-quality product (e.g.
innovations), insures higher productivity and makes a greater contribution to GNP and a higher
quality of life.
There are several hypotheses in response to the question of why one country is lagging behind,
and the other is advanced, and whether the backward country may be a leader. What does not
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allow for a country to break into leading positions is associated not with economic growth or the
efficiency of economic policy but with values and norms of behaviour: what people consider being
evil or good, what is acceptable or not acceptable. In the world, there have been attempts to explain
why a country seeking progress and welfare sinks into mediocrity. Modern theory of economy has
presented several hypotheses. First, it was contended that the foundation of everything is economic
growth: it is sufficient to achieve rapid economic growth and everything will be perfect in future.
Some countries definitely managed to achieve rapid economic growth; however, they again sank
into mediocrity. Hence, according to scientists, this hypothesis was not confirmed.
In accordance with another hypothesis, efficient politics is economic, social and foreign
policies. It is contended that it is necessary to change a political system, to democratise a country
and eventually progress will be made. Unfortunately, the experience of southern Asian countries,
which made progress but are not democratic, shows that this hypothesis was not confirmed either.
The third hypothesis - the most persuasive one (at present it is being tested by scientific
methods) - is culture. Culture which can change with the education system can eventually divert
economy in the right direction and remove the obstacles on the road to progress.
American scientists Douglas North, John Wullis and Barry Weingast contend that the
transition from a backward world to leaders occurs rarely as a fifty year period is necessary. Other
scientists (A. Auzan) claim that with proper attention to culture progressive stimuli may be felt
merely after 10-15 years.
Thus, the main levers of progress are interpretation of cultural values and the implementation
of a long-term attitude. A critical breakthrough moment is the realisation that it is long work and
it is not worth believing in those people who promise a leap within a short period of time.
Economic growth can be achieved, however, a question arises – what will happen after that? One
of the most obvious barriers to economic and social progress is the devaluation of culture; another
one is lack of preparation for long periods of change; and the third one is a complete lack of
understanding of these two issues.
It is complicated to express the aspect of the quality of life by quantitative indices; however,
it is partially possible to do it on the basis of material aspect of culture.
The authors of this programme emphasise that while analysing the quality of life of the
population it is vital not to ignore such a significant aspect as gender equality.
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In the European Union countries, great attention has recently been paid to gender equality. It
is recognised as one of the most efficient methods for increasing the quality of life of the
population. On the one hand, the analysis from the point of view of gender equality helps distribute
state expenditure more efficiently and to achieve better macro-economy results; on the other hand,
it allows to better satisfy the needs of particular society groups and to enhance the quality of life.
The integration of the aspect of gender equality and the instruments of the implementation of
gender equality are new methods, innovative social technologies, widely used in the world and the
European Union for the enhancement of the quality of life. They are commonly used in Lithuania
as well.
Gender equality is a HORIZONtal priority permeating all the spheres of economic, social and
political life and (in the authors’ presented concept) health and demographic processes influencing
the level of the quality of life of the population. Pursuant to the research of the aspect of gender
over the last decades, the system of culture, moral, ethical and spiritual values is closely connected
with gender stereotypes existing in society. Nowadays, the attitude to gender problems is
becoming an indicator of welfare, culture and civilisation of an individual and the whole country.
Regarding the presented systematic perception of the quality of life according to selected
indices of different spheres of the quality of life, the opportunity to calculate objective and
subjective indices of the quality of life appears based on corresponding statistical data and the
results of subjective sociological research.
The concept of the quality of life of the population and systematic understanding (i.e. the
possibility to measure this complex phenomenon and to reasonably analyse it) allow forming
an efficient future programme which would be aimed at overcoming negative trends and
positively transforming the content and contours of the quality of the population of the
country.
4. Having become a member state of the EU in 2004, Lithuania adopted and ratified the most
significant strategic EU documents (the Lisbon Strategy, New Strategy for Social Cohesion, the
Lithuanian Strategy for the use of the EU Structural Assistance for 2007-2013 and the EU strategy
“Europe 2020”); however, in real economic life Lithuania lacks a clear position of the direction
in economy. There are attempts to simultaneously go in two opposite directions. While declaring
the pursuit of the European welfare model in its strategic documents, as a matter of fact Lithuania
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is implementing the American monetary model which diverts Lithuania from the common
objectives of the EU. Lithuanian economic policy is not orientated towards the social factor which
lacked sufficient attention throughout the whole period of market reforms. The priority was given
to the tasks of macro-economy – to balance state finances and to curb inflation.
Contrary to modern trends of the theory of current economy, Lithuanian economic research is
more diverted to the assurance of rapid economic growth and macro-economic stability, the
development of the financial sector, banking and business as well as profit making whereas neither
earlier nor especially nowadays sufficient attention is paid to social economic development, the
research of the welfare and quality or of the population and the emergence of a market economy.
The welfare of the population has never been the priority object of research in Lithuania. It
should be noted that in different world and EU countries various paradigms of welfare have been
created and implemented, and different economic models have been applied, these model being
directed at positive changes of economic and social life and based on individualistic and holistic
paradigms reflected in monetary-liberal and European welfare models.
Seeking to implement the European welfare model, Lithuania has to develop competitive
economy insuring the welfare of society. The competitiveness of the country is determined not
only by the efforts of economic sectors, business companies and the state to make profit but also
by the ability to ensure the quality of life for all the social groups of the population. Social
and economic cohesion is an important priority of the development of the EU economic
development aimed at reducing social and economic disparities among social groups, EU regions
and member states.
In Lithuanian current economic policy, in order to supplement the revenue of the state budget,
the state cannot offer anything except the reduction of expenditure and the increase of taxes.
However, as the real state of the country's economy shows, this path leads to an impasse. The
problem of the deficit of the state budget reflects serious systematic problems of the Lithuanian
economy - the destruction of the public sector (which simultaneously influences the collapse of
the private sector), the inefficiency of economic policy, massive emigration form the country, huge
unemployment or the collapse of the welfare of the population. Therefore, it cannot be resolved
applying fragmented accountancy measures – the reduction of expenditure and the increase of
taxes. While seeking to implement a new strategy of progress of the Lithuanian state and the
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scenarios of its development, it is vital to rely not on abstract indices - the growth of GNP and
normative macro-financial indices (Maastricht criteria) but to pay attention to the indices of the
quality of life of the population which reflect the real economic status and shows the
efficiency of economic policy. Having this in mind, it is appropriate, first, to analyse the system
of indices of the quality of life, to be well aware of the situation and problems of this sphere and
to forecast the future trends of development. The state should know what it is seeking, which
objectives are more important – whether to decrease inflation and budget deficit at all costs which
would undermine the economic foundation of state economy or to create conditions for the
increase of the quality of life of the citizens so that they would not flee their country.
Unfortunately, the concept of the quality of human life is not sufficiently reflected in strategic
documents of Lithuania, it is not given any priority meaning. Secondary attention to the indices
of the quality of life of the population is one of essential features of our economic policy. Over
the last years there have been new attempts to decrease the expenditure of the state budget, to
increase the tariffs of taxes, to introduce new taxes, to reduce corruption in order to decrease the
budget deficit. However, this problem has not been resolved; it still exists and is becoming more
serious. In order to achieve not only economic but also social justice, it is vital to analyse social-
economic models of Lithuania and other countries from the point of view of efficiency in the
common political-historical context, to forecast the trends of their development as well as to
describe and compare them.
It is imperative to carry out research in this direction due to the circumstance that in Lithuania
the issues of the quality of life of the population are most frequently analysed merely from
the point of view of the science of sociology and social policy, theoretically and practically
separating them from economy, especially macro-economy. One of the tasks of the programme
is to indicate that the parameters of the quality of life of the population have a great influence on
the national economy, macroeconomic indices or state budget revenues, and disregarding them
unbalances national economy, fails to solve the problems of the state budget deficit and may even
lead to a collapse of the economy.
5. The state of modern welfare is associated with the need for social and economic security.
In the 2014 UNDP human development report “Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing
Vulnerability and Building Resilience” it is accentuated that in order to decrease social-economic
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inequality and social exclusion it is important to admit the concept of vulnerability and
resilience (vitality, endurance) to the hardships of life.
Real progress of the development of the people depends not only on their choice and ability to
obtain education, to be healthy and achieve a certain standard of living and feel secure but also on
the fact whether these results are ensured and stable, and whether sufficient conditions for
sustainable development of the people have been created. Progress of the development the people
is incomplete without the analysis and evaluation of vulnerability. The concept of human
vulnerability and resilience has been introduced in order to define the decrease of human
potential and the possibilities of choice.
The question arises why some people are more resilient to the hardships of life and achieve
more than others. The main accent there is on a person’s resilience, his ability to overcome the
hardships of life which ensures reliable possibilities of choice, stability at present and in future,
allows to cope with the challenges and to adapt to them.
At different periods of their life people encounter various levels of insecurity and different
forms of vulnerability. Children, teenagers and elderly people are vulnerable from the very
beginning; thus, the question arises about which investments and measures can reduce
vulnerability during sensitive transitional periods of life.
Vulnerable social groups:
women
the disabled
children
youth
the elderly
Other various social groups can also be vulnerable – the poor, people working in an
informal sector, experiencing social exclusion and those who are on the boundary of getting into
the group of the vulnerable.
One of the most vulnerable social groups is women. Disregarding the progress made over
the last years, according to numerous researches, women’s potential is not implemented. Limited
use of women’s potential and fewer possibilities of choice prevent them from coping with the
hardships of life. During certain cycles of their life, their potential can be limited due to insufficient
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investments and timely attention; thus, the risk of vulnerability, which tends to increase and
accumulate, emerges. Women’s insecurity, as a structural problem of vulnerability, increases and
expands in the long run, which furthermore increases gender inequality regarding work and
employment, social status, income and the quality of life. It is not easy for women to overcome
these obstacles.
A thesis has been proclaimed stating that in order to reduce stable forms of inequality,
most of which are of a structural kind, others are associated with life cycle, it is imperative to
continuously increase the potential of the life of individuals and society and to try to encourage
the development of a vital human being.
A discussion on the concept of vitality, endurance and resilience is being held. However,
it emphasizes human resilience to the hardships of life that ensures stability of choice of
possibilities and credibility at present and in future and enables them to cope with negative
phenomena or to adapt to them.
The potential of human life is being formed throughout life; therefore, it is imperative to
educate and support it, otherwise it may stagnate. Numerous forms of people’s vulnerability are
consequences of their life; moreover, past results pose risk and threat to become vulnerable and
find the ways to overcome them.
While creating the potential of human life, two circumstances are especially significant:
first, the potential of life is influenced by investments during all stages of life cycles. The
earlier they are, the better the perspectives of an individual. On the contrary, if they are untimely
and short-term, there is a greater possibility that people would not be able to realise themselves
and their human potential. In this context, investment in children education play a decisive role.
Second, often short-term shocks are characterized by long-term effects. Human
recovery and coming back to the previous state after a seemingly temporary shock does not always
happen automatically; complete rehabilitation depends on different circumstances and, regarding
the costs, is not necessarily efficient.
Resilience is the ability to remove the obstacles preventing a person's freedom to act
and participate in one’s own life and fate.
Training of resilience is the training of the possibilities of choice, strengthening
psychological properties and enhancing competences (knowledge and professionalism).
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The main thesis states that every human must have the possibility to live life which
seems valuable and meaningful to him.
Four key principals of the concept of the reduction of vulnerability and the enhancement
of resilience have been laid down:
The principle of universality – individuals have the same value and the right to
protection and support.
Human - first of all. Macro-economy must be orientated towards an individual;
human is not a tool, not an objective.
Collective actions to overcome the challenges of vulnerability. The public sector
plays a very important role.
Co-ordination between the parties and institutions. The government and other
institutions.
The following key threats have been emphasised in the concept:
Poverty
Inequality
Environmental degradation
Ineffective state governance
Strong policy of social security increases not only an individual’s resilience to the
hardships of life but also encourages economic growth and vitality of the country. Complete
employment must become a political goal of society at any stage and level of development.
According to Josepf Stiglitz, the research of the World Bank showed that two problems
are vital to people: insecurity and vulnerability. Basic perception of vulnerability is the threat
of the decline of the standard of living that is of particular concern, especially if the standard of
living can fall to the point of deprivation. Economists' traditional unilateral pursuit of GDP growth
has led to the fact that they do not pay any attention to the problem of vulnerability.
One of the factors that makes the largest contribution to the increase of vulnerability is
social economic inequality, especially when the poor cannot overcome the hardships of life.
Inequality has to be viewed not as a moral problem but as an economic challenge, closely
connected, first, with economic growth and, second, with the increase of vulnerability.
19
6. Recent international research shows that the pursuit of economic growth and macro-
economic stability are hampered by socio-economic inequality. So far, according to Lithuania's
economic policy, the increase of social inequality was believed to be inevitable until economic
growth and the level reached are low. However, theoretical and practical world research shows
that such provisions are wrong. The research of the countries of the world presented in the report
of the World Bank Justice and Development (World Bank, 206) proves that excessive inequality
hinders economic growth. The increase of inequality controlled by the progressive tax system
and other ways of the distribution of income considerably enhances the income of only the rich
and decreases the income of the rest of the population making the majority of the population
poorer. Due to this reason, economy becomes less efficient and loses opportunities for innovation
and investment.
According to Kenneth Rogoff, professor of Economy and Public Policy at Harvard
University, former economist of the International Monetary Fund, “One thing is clear: inequality
is not just a problem for the future. Concerns about the impact of income inequalities are already
limiting the measures of fiscal and monetary policy both in developed and developing countries
as they try to get out of the financial crisis. It is highly likely that the country's ability to reduce
social tensions caused by inequality can be the factor that will determine who will win and who
will lose the next stage of globalization. Inequality is a significant unpredictable factor and will
have an impact on global economic growth over the next decade”(Rogoff, 2000).
“Social justice is the foundation of society. If it is vulnerable, a huge human building,
which is created and supported by nature itself, collapses rapidly and turns into dust. And it is a
blow for personal gain, because it is linked to the welfare of society!” This was said not by anyone
else but by firmly believing in the market's “invisible hand” Adam Smith (Adam Smith, 1997).
World research shows that the distribution of the product, while ignoring social justice,
impedes not only economic growth and reduces the budget revenue but also negatively affects the
quality of life of the population: demographic processes, health, material status of the population,
and decreases the availability of education.
A well-known French economist Jacques Attali writes in his book World Economy Crisis.
And After?: "Liberal ideology serves a small (countless) minority, especially considering that in
2008, as in previous years, many billions of dollars were “laundered” into banks. It was at the time
20
when ideology had to reflect the interests of all people, including the poorest ones, and future
generations. A small group of people who do not create any national property, without any control
from the outside, captures the largest part of the world's values. After these people have taken
everything, they also make tax payers pay for their unheard-of profits, bonuses, also forcing the
state to recover huge sums for repayment of the state debt and hole-patching” (Attali, 2009).
Similar issues are raised by R. Reich, who contends that the reasons of a global crisis are
not the growth of government debts and not the way of life of the population on the income but
huge social injustice when GDP growth is based on an unjustified rise in the wealth of the wealthy
people (Reich, 2010).
Nobel Prize laureate Joseph Stiglitz in his report Rewriting Rules for Roosevelt Institute
states that inequality is not inevitable; it is not a social nut economic problem. According to
libertarians, inequality is not a price for economic growth but is the cause of the slowdown in
economic growth. Inequality hinders economic growth and simultaneously negatively affects the
welfare of people's lives. The greater the inequality, the slower the economic growth, states
Stiglitz. Inequality, according to Stiglitz, is a systemic problem and characteristics of the
economic system.
Two main conclusions made by Stiglitz in his report are as follows: first, inequality is
the result of an ongoing economic policy which is conducive to the wealthy; second, the roots
of this problem cannot be counted into any single fragmented factor, e.g. profit tax, health
reforms or labour market reforms, they consist of a set of all factors, their system. Moreover,
the struggle with inequality demands a systematic approach and solution in numerous
spheres: financial reform, corporation management, tax policy, antitrust policy, money,
education, health policy and legal regulation of labour relations.
The increasing polarization of society being characterised by the absence or insignificance
of the middle class, is a particular cause of the economic downturn in Lithuania. The phenomenon
requires attention from the state as it encourages social tension in society and cataclysms: social
threats, emigration, and it may disrupt the development of the whole economy.
World experience shows that the 10-fold difference in income inequality (decile factor =
10) poses threat to the stability of the country's macro-economy. Currently, this limit is exceeded
in Lithuania. Excessive income differentiation in Lithuania (when the decile income
21
differentiation coefficient = 12-14) is one of the most acute problems in the country without the
solution of which it is not possible to implement any long-term strategy and medium-term
programmes. Lithuania should implement the economic model of European welfare taking into
account the best world practice but at the same time the history of Lithuania and the nation's
mentality, natural, social and economic conditions. It would stabilize economy and enable to
return to the rapid and long-term trajectory of economic growth.
7. The analysis of the changes in life quality in the context of postmodernism suggests that
it is particularly important that life quality primarily reflects the subjective perception of welfare.
It includes physical, psychological, social and spiritual levels; therefore, not only the evaluation
of each person's welfare according to certain criteria, but also the subjective opinion of the person
is important for the assessment. A better life quality also means a more integrated society in which
the risk of poverty and social exclusion will be reduced and there will be more trust in the
authorities and their decisions. The aspect of public integrity is very important as a better quality
of life is a subjective concept, and objective criteria such as GDP per capita or unemployment rate
cannot fully disclose it.
After Lithuania’s accession into the European Union the studies of the European life
quality are conducted the results of which show that the level of welfare of the people of Bulgaria,
Latvia, Lithuania and Hungary is extremely low (Anderson et al., 2009). The research findings,
however, are more of sociological nature. Subjective welfare is examined in the context of socio-
demographic phenomena while the results obtained do not provide the information about
subjective factors of psychological well-being.
In recent years, research in mental health and psychological well-being has increased in
the Western countries. Subjective welfare and the factors associated with it are explored in
foreign countries (mainly in the USA) attesting to establish the relationship of subjective welfare
with other variables (socio-demographic, personal characteristics). Lithuanian researchers have
examined the subjective welfare of individual representatives of different professions
(Grigaliūnienė et al., 2007), subjective quality of life as a social indicator (Merkys et al. 2008),
the phenomenological approach of the experience of unemployment (Norvilė and Vaštakaitė,
2009), the subjective welfare of women (Žukauskienė and Šakalytė, 2003; Žukauskienė,
Navaitienė, Kanapinskaitė, 2005), the subjective welfare of middle-age males (Žukauskienė and
22
Šilinskas, 2004); a comparison of the factors of subjective welfare of middle-aged women in
Lithuania and Sweden was performed (Daukantaitė, Žukauskienė, 2006), etc. However, it should
be noted that the research carried out in this direction is not sufficient and the studies are
fragmented.
8. EU Program for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 stipulates that research should
serve the development of an inclusive, innovative and safe society. The research of the factors
of psychological well-being would enable Lithuania, as a developing country to expand the tasks
carried out in Europe, increase Lithuania's international research attractiveness and create
conditions for the implementing initiatives of scientific and public interest.
In Lithuania, the factors of psychological well-being began to be studied more than a
couple of years ago (Bagdonas, 2013). The factors of psychological well-being in adolescence,
youth and old age have not been adequately investigated. There has been no explanation about the
impact of different programs of health and education, culture and other fields on the psychological
well-being of the Lithuanian people, as well as about the implementation of various programs
aimed at reducing social exclusion and increasing employment for which the funds from the
budget of Lithuania and the European Union are allocated.
An increase of the happiness index of the population can be a reliable indicator of the
efficiency and economic effectiveness of social innovation. Unfortunately, while Lithuania has
been using the European Union's financial support for ten years, the psychological well-being
(happiness) index of the Lithuanian population remains one of the lowest in Europe. This may
mean that in terms of the psychological well-being of the population, the Lithuanian budget and
European Union funds have not been used effectively. Hence, it is important to investigate which
strategies and programmes really affect the psychological well-being of the people of Lithuania
and what actions can be discarded. It is also important to analyse the problems which impede the
sustainable development of society and can reduce the psychological well-being of the population,
such as unemployment, social inequality, manifestations of aggression in workplaces and
educational institutions, failure to assess the needs of vulnerable groups (such as the problems of
early diagnosis of victims of violence, problems of the early detection of vulnerability of victims
and witnesses, issues of ensuring the psychological well-being of adults and children related to
population migration), etc.
23
Moreover, the National Education Strategy for 2013-2022 indicates that in the global
ratings we do have established Lithuanian institutions, which, when preparing specialists, would
fully meet public expectations. One of the most pressing expectations of a modern society is
“sustainable development that meets the needs of present generations, while preserving the
opportunities for future generations to meet their own needs” (Our Common Future; Brundtland
Commission, 1987). As indicated by various scientific studies (e.g. Banuri, 2009, Stelzer, Kashian,
2014; Liu et al., 2009) and the instruments of the European Commission and the United Nations,
in order to protect the living and physical environment, including natural resources, processes and
equilibrium, it is necessary to restrict global warming (significantly reduce fuel carbon emissions),
stop biodiversity loss, control and limit the release of persistent chemical pollutants, return to
natural nutrient cycles. Organizations controlling these processes are recognized as socially
responsible (Montiel, 2008; Montiel, 2014), while the return on investment (ROI) in social
responsibility in some segments reaches 400 per cent. (Ernst & Young Report, 2013).
Unfortunately, there is not enough research into the relationship between sustainability and
psychological well-being, either. In addition, the social dimension of sustainability means that the
goal of sustainable development is a good enough life for all people in the present and future
generations. Only the compassionate people can ensure sustainable development in society as
“compassion is the basis of democracy, peace in the world, the absence of violence and the
prosperity of society” (Davis, 2006; Conti, 2005); without establishing it, not only sustainable
development, but also the implementation of the mission of science are impeded. The lack of
compassion involves selective negative attention to intellectual, economic, cultural, social,
psychological and other differences; in the world, this is considered to be a scientific, social and
behavioural problem; special programmes have begun to be designed to overcome it (Brantley,
2007). The environment without compassion cannot meet the principles of social and economic
cohesion and sustainable development or achieve the goals set in the strategic documents of
Lithuania and the EU. While analysing the factors of psychological well-being, a model for the
formation of sustainable behaviour, compassionate communication and sustainable welfare will
be developed.
In addition, while analysing the priority areas for psychological well-being, Ed Diener
(2011), a researcher of psychological well-being, contends that the analysis of the factors of
24
psychological well-being and the development of the measures ensuring psychological well-being
are among the most important tasks of the research in contemporary psychology. Researchers in
the US and Europe are actively solving issues of ensuring psychological well-being (for example,
ensuring children’s psychological well-being in their parents’ divorce cases, ensuring the
psychological well-being of victims with disabilities or minorities in criminal proceedings, etc.).
According to Diener (2013), it is necessary to pool the international efforts of researchers of
various psychology fields and to answer the question of what causes can influence and what
measures can reliably ensure psychological well-being: 1) psychological well-being at work, 2)
psychological well-being related to health, 3) psychological well-being of various groups (age,
gender, etc.). Although the measures of ensuring psychological well-being have been explored for
a decade. For example, Davidson (2003) researched the efficiency of positive affective
intervention, Burton and King (2004) - the effects of the experience of positive interventions,
Sharma (2008) - effectiveness of lifestyle interventions, Papousek (2008) - mood-enhancing
interventions; Gilek (2010) - interventions of gratitude, Chan (2013) - the impact of directing
negative events on positive interventions, Luthans (2007) - the impact of interventions of
psychological capital on the psychological well-being of employees), many questions about the
effectiveness of the measures and their application have not been answered. In addition, the links
between psychological well-being with not only social demographic characteristics, income,
health, work factors, but also with the totality of psychological characteristics that determine
subjective evaluation of well-being, as well as in situational (e.g. traumatic) circumstances, have
recently been sought.
9. In the programme, the ratio of education and quality of life is examined in various
aspects. One of the most relevant aspects is related to the impact of education on the welfare of an
individual and the community. Today, education is regarded as a very significant foundation for
development and catalyst for progress. Sustainable investment in human capital is considered a
prerequisite for a sustainable economy. In the current labour market of knowledge society, the
fastest growing demand is for specialists with analytical and creative thinking, entrepreneurship
and skills of innovative activity. Education also has certain tasks while overcoming the challenges
caused by social demographic processes. For instance, in an aging society, education must enable
older people to remain in the labour market for a longer period of time. Both in the global (e.g. the
25
European Commission, 2010) and the national development strategies (for example, the
Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, 2012) it is emphasized that not only economic growth
but also social inclusion and cohesion depend on the access to education, the quality of
competencies and knowledge acquired by citizens. An individual’s education and lifelong learning
are an essential prerequisite for the quality of life. Only by constantly acquiring knowledge and
improving his creative abilities can a person be able to survive successfully, change the
environment and create personal and common good. Education enhances people's creativity and
entrepreneurship, promotes technological competence and labour productivity. People who are
more educated and prone to constant learning tend to have a greater autonomy and social
responsibility, are better informed, manage to adapt more successfully to changes, are more
resilient in difficult situations, live longer, have a full life, their career ensures a higher level of
social prestige, income and life satisfaction. Not accidentally the indicators of welfare are high in
the countries where stable investment in education brings a harmonious connection between
society, the state and the market, and creates a modern and accessible learning environment for
the people.
Research is a reliable demonstration of the positive impact of lifelong learning on
happiness and welfare; it also gives comprehensive view and understanding of the complex
mechanism of interaction between education and the quality of life. Summarizing international
research data, R. Sabates and C. Hammond (2008) have drawn the following conclusions:
Acquired higher professional qualifications have a positive effect on human happiness, life
satisfaction, self-esteem and self-efficacy and reduce the risk of depression. The positive effect of
learning on self-esteem and self-efficacy is particularly pronounced when learning corresponds to
the needs of learners and when learners are prone to learning outcomes and are prepared to take
advantage of this stage of life. The positive effect of education is manifested through various
intermediate processes, which have such factors as higher income, favourite work, household
composition and healthy lifestyle, the use of health services, emotional resistance, social skills and
better health at an older age. However, in some cases education can have a negative impact on
personal happiness. For example, highly qualified workers may be less satisfied with their job and
less resistant to depression than colleagues with a moderate-level qualification. Education
26
promotes higher personality aspirations and expectations that are not always satisfactory in the
work environment, which increases the risk of stress.
Lithuania's Progress Strategy Lithuania 2030 (approved by the Parliament of the Republic
of Lithuania, 2012) values human imagination, creativity and critical thinking as significant
national resources. The ideal of a wealth-producing country is associated with a nurturing
creativity in the education space in which a grown up and living person is capable of creating and
being part of “smart society”. The strategy notes that “one of the key factors influencing the
development of society is a well-developed and successful system of lifelong learning”. High-
level scientific research and innovations are essential to “smart economy” and “smart society”. It
is a sphere of progress the main actors of which are highly qualified specialists. How much and
how Lithuania, in comparison with other EU countries, is successful in struggling to break away
from quite low positions in the quality of life according to many criteria is an equally important
question for researchers, politicians and the public.
It is necessary to rely on statistical data while considering this issue and looking for
successful solutions. Statistics are important, but its institutional nature and the abundance of
indicators often complicate the process of public policy. As for the whole Europe, it is vital for
Lithuania to have more convenient tools for political analysis - integral indices of the quality of
life, including a component of education, covering not only objective but also subjective
dimensions.
10. The program analyses the quality of life at work (QLW) which can be defined as the
quality of the relationship of employees with their work environment. Today, QLW is associated
with a more general concept of the quality of life (QL), i.e. QLW is viewed as an integral part of
QL. A person spends a large part of his life at work, and the money earned is not the greatest
benefit - work helps us satisfy communication needs, shapes the social and professional
identity of personality, provides opportunities for self-expression, recognition and overall
sense of work satisfaction which is an important element of happy life. Work gives meaning
to life, and unemployment is seen as the main source of misery and depression (Frey &
Stutzer, 2000). Unfortunately, QLW does not merely depend on human wishes and efforts.
Various circumstances, such as lack of education or qualifications, financial difficulties, poor
health, etc., can make us have an unpleasant job. Low organizational culture, poor management
27
and a stressful microclimate can lead to constant stress and frustration, which will accompany a
person only at work. On the other hand, it is easy to notice that the progress of organizations in
today's fast-moving world is directly related to the quality of human resources. Success is
determined not by successful technologies but by successful employees who are able to use
or design new technologies.
In recent years, there has appeared more scientific evidence that the results of the
organization are heavily dependent on the happiness of people working there (Happiness
Works, 2012). Experimental research has established (Oswald, 2013) that happier people are more
likely to be innovative, successfully reveal their creative potential and higher productivity. They
tend to constantly improve their qualifications, do not spare energy and time at work, outside the
organization they behave like its “ambassadors” spreading positive knowledge and strengthening
a good image. Happier employees help create and maintain an optimistic mood and effective work
climate (Fisher, 2010). Compared to unhappy workers, they are less likely to be absent from work,
have less harmful habits and have better health (IOD, 2006). This synergistic relationship
between productivity and happiness is considered as an important precondition for the
motivation of employees.
It is acknowledged that investing life quality at work can bring significant benefits to both
employees and the entire organization. Not accidentally more and more institutions implement
employee motivating measures which encourage not only individual efforts of people but also
teamwork relations and commitment to the mission, which is in line with the ideals of society, its
role in the organization and the perception of responsibility, the need to raise qualifications and
realize itself as a personality.
Consideration of the quality of life at work in scientific and public debates raises awareness
that sustainable progress is determined by the economic relationship with the happiness of
citizens, therefore, the main objective of politics is not to create financial capital but the main
treasure of the country - an equal, healthy and viable society in which people enjoy their
activities both at work and beyond (Monkevičius, 2014).
11. One of the objectives of research of this programme is an unprecedented decline of
culture, moral and ethical values, which is one of the most important causes of the economic
downturn in Lithuania. Total propaganda of material and financial aspect in the official
28
economic doctrine of the 20-21st centuries encouraged not only socio-economic inequality but also
conspicuous trends in the decline of culture, moral, ethical and spiritual values. It became evident
that the models of large private capital absolute and radical attempts to discard market regulation
contradict the concepts of social justice, equality, democracy and destroy traditional ethics and
morals, turn an individual into a slave for money, level up personality and personal freedom.
The diffusion and dispersion of accepted moral norms take place in the public
consciousness - the boundary between good and evil disappears. Individual pragmatism, cynicism
and orientation towards personal benefit are increasingly spreading. Among young people, a cult
of cruelty and violence is being formed; aggression is seen as a value that dulls the feelings of
compassion and humanity. Psychologists, sociologists and representatives of the church state that
negative moral-ethical principles are becoming stronger in all the layers of society. It affects the
behaviour in society and in the family. In Lithuania, the main cause of depression, alcoholism,
drug addiction, criminal behaviour and suicide is spiritual emptiness, loss of meaning of life,
obscure moral and ethical values. It is the price for consumer ideology, the cult of material success,
the lack of spirituality and loss of ideals.
When answering the question of why one country is lagging behind and the other is
advanced, and whether backward country can be a leader, Professor A. Auzan contends that in
modern economic theory there is a “path-driven effect” or “path-dependent” effect: a country falls
into the well-trodden ruts, trying to escape from them, but is always slipping back to them. From
the scientist’s point of view, what constrains the country in the well-trodden ruts is not related to
economic growth or the efficiency of economic policy but to values and behavioural norms: what
people consider to be bad and good, acceptable and unacceptable. For example, whether it is good
to pay taxes, whether it is possible to report on a neighbour, a colleague, or whether it lawful to
steal from the state treasury, whether social privileges can be claimed when one is not entitled to
them. Thus, according to Auzan, it is a matter of culture, but of such culture which can change
due to education and long-term work with people. It can be pushed to the right side and the blocker
on the development path can be removed but it takes a considerably long time - 10 to 15 years.
There have been attempts in the world to explain why the country was in the ordinary
tracks. Several hypotheses have been presented in contemporary economic theory. First, it was
stated that economic growth is the grounds for everything: it is necessary to achieve rapid
29
economic growth and everything will succeed in itself. It is known that some countries achieve
economic growth faster than other countries (for example, Lithuania also saw GDP growth rate of
10.3 per cent in 2003, but failed to break away from previous tracks. This is also illustrated by
examples from numerous other countries. Thus, according to the scientists, this hypothesis has not
been confirmed.
The second hypothesis is an efficient political regime: it is necessary to change the political
system, democratize the country when people demand positive changes, and they will take place.
Unfortunately, this hypothesis is completely unreliable. For example, in Singapore, the political
regime is opposite to the democratic one, and the country succeeded in getting into the leaders.
There are quantitative studies, including the consequences of the revolutions, which show that if
the revolution takes place in a country with inefficient institutions where people do not always
obey the law, then the country's economic situation does not improve (Egypt, Ukraine).
The third hypothesis - the most likely, which is currently being tested - is concerned with
culture. However, only with the culture that can change due to education and working with the
population for a long time. Culture can positively affect the economy within 10-15 years and
remove the brakes on the road ahead (for example, as has happened in southern Germany). Thus,
the main lever - a valuable interpretation - is the implementation of work, property, freedom and
long-term approach. The crucial moment of breakthrough is the perception that this is a long way
and a long-term job, and those who promise a jump in a short period of time, should not be
believed. Economic growth can be achieved; however, the question is what will follow after?
The essential principal is that all the countries that succeeded in transitioning from the
backward to the leading ones (namely, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, also
partially Poland, Ireland, and southern regions of Germany) have some common features. First, in
all those countries, it was crucial to realize their potential (based on human resources and their
characteristics) rather than surviving, making both ends meet; second, individualism - a person
has the right to act on his own; third, a long-term strategic approach. It is a very important principle
as you need to look at the years ahead and not for four years. Lithuania does not have any strategic
attitude; moreover, it is limited by government regulation.
For instance, it seemed that in 2003-2004 and 2007, Lithuania broke out of well-trodden
ruts but then it pulled back again. This is the "path-dependent" effect”. It means there is some kind
30
of blockage and brakes that prevent the country from moving forward. One of these obvious
barriers is the lack of preparation for long periods of change, the lack of a strategic approach;
another barrier is the devaluation of culture and education by giving this place for commercial and
money-seeking purposes; and third, the complete misunderstanding of these levers. The country
is tangibly aiming at success, better material condition, it has escaped the former difficult
condition; however, it does not succeed in arriving at a new state and establishing oneself in a
stable position. Understanding these levers should become the turning point.
American researchers Douglass C. North (Nobel laureate in economics), a historian Don
Youll and a political scientist Barry R. Weingast state in their book Violence and Social Orders
that transition from underdeveloped world to the leaders’ world happens rarely and requires 50
years (in number, it does not mean an undisrupted period). Other researchers (A. Auzan) maintain
that, if culture is taken into consideration, progressive advancements may already be felt in 10-15
years.
Thus, the major levers of progress are cultural value-based orientation and implementation
of a long-term attitude. The determining moment of change is the understanding that this is a long
way to go, this is a long-lasting work, and we should not believe those who claim that a
considerable jump is possible in a short-term. Economic growth can be reached; however, there is
a question What next? One of the most obvious hindrances to economic and social progress is
depreciation of culture, another – unpreparedness for long periods of change, and the third – a
complete failure to understand the former two things.
The existing economic situation of Lithuania’s population raises big concerns. The reasons
are not merely the economic problems faced by the EU and a threatening international situation.
Though these things, undoubtedly, have an impact on the country’s economy and society, the
problems lurk inside the country. According to Stieglitz, the difficulties faced by the post-Soviet
economies and a permanent crisis are determined by two major factors – lack of a strategic
attitude and unprofessional decisions.
In fact, the difficulties arise because there is no true professional elite in Lithuania which is
necessary for any country’s development and progress. Emigration is a societal challenge and only
elite ersatz, pseudo-elite remains in the country. Thus, we have to refer to it not as elite but
dominant groups. In the country, there are always people and groups who believe that they
31
understand which direction should be taken and who succeed in leading people that way. Does
this mean that the chosen road is right? No, it does not. It means that a society does not live without
such groups and the economy does not exist. The quality of the elite is yet another question. The
major problem is the crisis of the Lithuanian elite. Let’s see whether such people as professionals
of the highest level are valued in Lithuania, whether they have realized their potential, whether
our economists, sociologists, professional politician who have an in-depth understanding of the
complex economic, social and political problems are required by the country’s economy, politics,
whether they can have any influence? This is conditioned by a wide gap between governmental
structure and professionals, by a belief that it is not possible to do anything. The real elite is leaving
the country because it does not see where it can be useful, it does not see any prospects in its own
country, it does not believe in the future of the country.
A creative potential grows where there is a universal understanding, where there are no
barriers built, where there is a possibility of inner growth. The real elite are able of developing the
country on the grounds of the resources that are available in the country and the elite understand
that. These are not only material resources, not so much technologies and innovations. Rather,
these are specificities of people’s life and behaviour, moral ethical norms, system of values. It is
necessary to locate such resources, such mental features that can be taken as a basis. In the
beginning, it is necessary to employ the existing things, not something that does not exist yet. But
it will not bring excellent results just like that. However, in 10-15 years, it is necessary to nurture
the features that are not present today. New, genetically undetermined features are acquired
through socialization which is, first and foremost, conditioned by school, university, and the
military. These are institutions that nurture sociocultural characteristics of a population, their
behavioural attitudes, habits.
The aim and the objectives of the research programme are formulated on the basis of the
above-mentioned problematic issues and challenges related to quality.
II. THE AIM, THEMES, OBJECTIVES, MEASURES OF IMPLEMENTATION,
EXPECTED QUALITATIVE RESULTS
The aim is to carry out complex research the economic, social, legal, public administrative,
psychological and educational pre-conditions for the improvement of life quality of Lithuania’s
32
population and for the increase of its employment possibilities; determine causes and obstacles to
effective improvement of life quality and promoting of employment; suggest effective ways of
removing the obstacles and causes based on research findings and provide recommendations to
public institutions that form life quality and employment policies, to policy makers and policy
implementers.
The objectives of the programme:
Theoretical and methodological research on different aspects of life quality –
conceptions, diversity of measuring and assessment indicators;
Research on macroeconomic factors of life quality – relations between financial,
fiscal policy and life quality indices, processes of social and economic cohesion of
the EU;
Research on safe and healthy society – its health, healthy lifestyle, demographics
and family, ageing, psychological well-being of population, migration factors;
Research factors impacting material well-being, economic factors impacting life
quality – increasing employment, underground economy, business growth, creation
of a socially-responsible labour market, accumulation of income and consumption,
savings, housing and environment.
Research on non-economic factors of life quality – sustainable educational policy,
work life, sustainable culture, the impact of the moral - ethical value system on
economy, ecological life quality and other factors.
33
5. Innovative research on
life quality factors
4. Research on material
well-being of population
3. Research on safe and
healthy society (on changes in
health and demographic
changes)
2. Research on
macroeconomic factors of life
quality
1. Theoretical and
methodological research on
life quality
IMP
RO
VIN
G L
IFE
QU
AL
ITY
AN
D E
NH
AN
CIN
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1.1. Research on conception of life quality
1.2. Methodology of life quality measurement and
assessment
1.3. Model of Lithuania’s economic and social
development in the context of globalization and
Europeanization
2.1. Research on co-relations between life quality and
macroeconomic factors
2.2. Research on co-relations between financial system
and life quality
2.3. Research on underground economy
2.4. Research on social and economic cohesion of the
EU with regard to different aspects of life quality
3.1. Research on health, healthy lifestyle
3.2. Research on family and ageing
3.3. Research on psychological well-being of
population
3.4. Research on migration factors
4.1. Research on increasing possibilities of
employment
4.2. Research on entrepreneurship education
4.3. Research on creation of a socially-responsible
labour market
4.4. Research on socio-economic inequality (income,
assets differentiation research)
4.5. Research on the level and structure of
population’s consumption
4.6. Research on savings and investments
4.7. Research on housing and environment
4.8. Research on life quality based on gender
5.1. Research on sustainable educational policy and life-
long learning
5.2. Research on work life
5.3. Research on social, economic and legal security
5.4. Research on psychological well-being, dependence
of happiness on income level
5.5. Research on sustainable well-being of life
5.6. Research on sustainable culture, moral-ethical values
5.7. Research on co-relations between culture and
economics
5.8. Research on participating approach in the context of
life quality
5.9. Research on social investments and innovations
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RESEARCH TOPIC 1: THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON LIFE
QUALITY
1.1. Objective
Research on the concept of life quality
Measures of implementation
1.1.1. definition of criteria
1.1.2. creation of a system of indicators
1.1.3. creation of an assessment model
1.1.4. calculation of objective and subjective indicators to assess life quality
Expected qualitative results
Populations’ conception of life quality
Criteria of research on life quality defined
A system of life quality indicators created
A model of assessing life quality created
Objective and subjective indicators of life quality calculated
1.2. Objective
Methodology of measuring and assessing life quality
Measures of implementation
1.2.1. definition of various concepts of life quality
1.2.2. analysis of different aspects of well-being of life
1.2.3. analysis of researchers’ attitude towards conception of life quality
Expected qualitative results
Various concepts of life quality defined
Different aspects of life quality analysed
Analysis of researchers attitude towards conception of life quality presented
1.3. Objective
A model of Lithuanian economic and social development in the context of globalisation and
Europeanisation
Measures of implementation
1.3.1. various synthetic life quality indices analysed and compared on an international level
1.3.2. defining Lithuania’s place in the world context
1.3.3. calculation of indices of various fields and an index of general life quality
Expected qualitative results
Synthetic indicators of life quality analysed and compared on an international level
Lithuania’s place in the international context determined and substantiated from the
perspective of life quality
Indicators of various fields and a general index of life quality calculated
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The first thematic field is focused on formulation of theoretical and
methodological basis of populations’ life quality. A conception of populations’ life quality–
various concepts pertinent to life quality and different aspects of life well-being will be analysed,
research-based attitude towards conception of life quality provided, various indicators of life
quality analysed and compared on an international level in order to show Lithuania’s place in the
global context.
This theme will be also focused on the methodology of assessment of life quality –
defining criteria, creation of a system of indicators, a model of assessment, calculation of objective
and subjective life quality assessment indicators. A systemic approach to life quality and
conceptual attitudes of researchers will be employed to develop research methodology. Following
the proposed conception of life quality, a system of indicators will be created. With regard to the
programme aim and objectives, methods of objective and subjective research will be proposed. In
the creation of a model of life quality assessment, these methods will be tested by carrying out an
empirical research and calculating indicators of various fields as well as a general index of life
quality.
Models of economic and social well-being will be researched following the
methodology of a state’s well-being developed by Western researchers. However, in Lithuania, it
is not expedient to follow directly the theoretical and methodological paradigms developed and
applied by Western states in the field of economic and social well-being because they can be
applied only partly in the states of specific development of new democracies that have lived only
a short period of independence. These paradigms have to be adopted and tested and theoretical
premises can be formulated later on the basis of empirical research that would reflect specific
experience of Eastern Europe and Baltic states. Bearing this in mind, research methods applied in
other countries will be used but the programme will also offer new research methods, statistical
and comparative analysis renewed, comparative data from Eastern European countries will be
used more extensively.
Substantial research has already been done both in Lithuania and Europe and in the
world in the field of research into employment and improvement of life quality (it is substantiated
by the fact that three researchers have achieved Nobel prizes for suggestions regarding decrease
in unemployment). Despite of that, Lithuania as a young EU state with a specific social, economic,
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legal and cultural situation has to search for scientifically-substantiated particular ways
(corresponding to its historical conditions, national mentality, stages of development) of
improving life quality, increasing employment, tackling unemployment, reducing emigration, and
brain drain, and achieving prosperity of the state.
In the analysis of problems of employment and life quality, it is necessary to take
into account quantitative and qualitative research methods for the analysis of social economic
development: participatory research, collation research, open coordination, etc. In research
methodology, not only empirical, inductive, positivist, but also abstract, deductive methods
of phenomenological nature have to be seen as important, which would generate new theories
and interpretations. The interpretative and normative aspect is especially important in making clear
value aspects pertinent to solidarity, social justice, social inclusion and motivation of social and
economic administration that would directly and indirectly impact the state’s economy.
RESEARCH TOPIC 2: RESEARCH ON MACROECONOMIC FACTORS OF LIFE QUALITY
2.1. Objective
Research on co-relations between life quality and macroeconomic factors
Measures of implementation
2.1.1. research on life quality and macroeconomic factors
2.1.2. research on social and economic cohesion of the EU in the context of life quality
Expected qualitative results
Identification of life quality and microeconomic factors
Analysis of and insights from research into social and economic cohesion of the EU in
the context of life quality
2.2. Objective
Research on co-relations between financial system and life quality
Measures of implementation
2.2.1. research on fiscal (tax) policy co-relations
2.1.2. research on co-relations between financial system and life quality
Expected qualitative results
findings of research on fiscal (tax) policy co-relations
findings of research on co-relations between financial system and life quality
2.3. Objective
Research on shadow economy
Measures of implementation
2.3.1. research on indicators of shadow economy
2.3.2. measurements of extent and tendencies of shadow economy
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Expected qualitative results
definition of indicators of shadow economy
a measurement model of extent and tendencies of shadow economy
2.4. Objective
Research on social and economic cohesion of the EU from the perspective of various aspects
of life quality
Measures of implementation
2.4.1. Research on circumstances of life quality of the EU and Lithuania
2.4.2. Research on impact of social and economic cohesion of the EU
Expected qualitative results
Findings of research on circumstances of life quality of the EU and Lithuania
Findings of research on impact of social and economic cohesion of the EU
The second thematic field is focused on research on macroeconomic factors of life
quality including co-relations between life quality and macroeconomic factors and fiscal (tax)
policy, research on co-relations between financial system and life quality as well as research on
social and economic cohesion of the EU with regard to life quality.
The research reflects circumstances of life quality of the EU and Lithuanian population –
the priority of Lithuania’s macroeconomic indicators in economic policy and ineffective results of
such approach. Problems related to interaction of public and private sector and effective
management will be analysed as well as formation of entrepreneurship policy and its
implementation in Lithuania. An important factor in analysing life quality is state’s financial
policy, a chosen model of fiscal policy and tax system oriented towards strict Maastricht criteria
or growth of economy and rise in life quality – these aspects are reflected in the programme.
RESEARCH TOPIC 3: RESEARCH ON SAFE AND HEALTHY SOCIETY (HEALTH AND
DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES)
3.1.Objective
Research on health and healthy lifestyle
Measures of implementation
3.1.1. Identification of indicators of health and healthy lifestyle
3.1.2. Assessment of indicators of health and healthy lifestyle
Expected qualitative results
Indicators of health and healthy lifestyle identified
Indicators of health and healthy lifestyle assessed
3.2. Objective
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Research on family and ageing
Measures of implementation
3.1.1. Formulation of a system of family and ageing indicators
3.1.2. Research on the context of family and ageing in Lithuania and the EU
3.1.3. Research on the tendencies of family and ageing
Expected qualitative results
A system of family and ageing indices formulated
Findings of research on family and ageing context in Lithuania and the EU
Findings of research on family and ageing tendencies
3.3. Objective
Research on psychological well-being of population
Measures of implementation
3.3.1.Research on psychological well-being of various societal groups
3.3.2. Research on psychological well-being at the workplace
Expected qualitative results
Findings of research on psychological well-being of various societal groups
Findings of research on psychological well-being at the workplace
3.4. Objective
Research on migration factors
Measures of implementation
3.4.1. Economic, social, psychological research on public and private sector
3.4.2. Research on entrepreneurship
Expected qualitative results
Findings of economic, social, psychological research on public and private sector
Findings of research on entrepreneurship
The third thematic field is research on safe, healthy society and demographic changes
and will include research on demographic changes, family, ageing, migration, psychological well-
being of the population. Rapidly increasing emigration level in Lithuania (largest among the EU
states) will be also researched. According to the last census of Lithuania’s population of 2011,
the country’s population is 3.05 million inhabitants, i.e. the number of inhabitants decreased
during market years by more than 500 thousand. The data from Statistics Department of Lithuania
also suggests that in 1990–2008, more than 500 thousand people left the country. In 2010 only,
the migration scale rose 4 times – 80 thousand inhabitants emigrated (in comparison to earlier
annual data, which is 15-20 thousand). They are mostly young, well educated, enterprising, and
full of initiative people as well as qualified specialists and highly professional individuals.
It is common to think that emigration is affected by economic factors –low salaries;
however, economic motives are to some extent overestimated. Smart young and educated
individuals often leave Lithuania because they do not see any prospects here – they cannot realise
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their professional and human potential, express their capacities and establish themselves as
personalities. Therefore, in order to encourage their return, a sound complex strategy of reducing
emigration has to be prepared; first and foremost, it has to be related with the implementation of
the model of European well-being in Lithuania, increase in life quality that encompasses multiple
spheres. It is a problem of choice of the entire economic system, economic policy of the state and
state strategy.
RESEARCH TOPIC 4: RESEARCH ON MATERIAL WELL-BEING OF POPULATION
4.1. Objective
Research on increasing employment possibilities
Measures of implementation
4.1.1. Research on participation of young people, the elderly, and low qualification workers in
labour market.
4.1.2. Research on strengthening integration of legal migrants in labour market.
Expected qualitative results
Findings of research on participation of young people, the elderly, and low
qualification workers in labour market.
Findings of research on strengthening integration of legal migrants in labour market
4.2. Objective
Research into entrepreneurship education
Measures of implementation
4.2.1. Defining a system of entrepreneurship indicators
4.2.2. Research into factors conditioning entrepreneurship
Expected qualitative results
A system of entrepreneurship indicators defined
Factors conditioning entrepreneurship determined and analysed
4.3. Objective
Research on creation of a socially-responsible labour market
Measures of implementation
4.3.1. Research on employment of social groups
4.3.2. Research on the context of employment of social groups
Expected qualitative results
Findings of research into employment of social groups
Findings of research into the context of employment of social groups
4.4. Objective
Research on socio-economic inequality (income, assets differentiation)
Measures of implementation
4.4.1. Research on cause-consequence of income, assets differentiation
4.4.2. Research on conditioning environment of income, assets differentiation
Expected qualitative results
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Findings of research on cause-consequence of income, assets differentiation
Findings of research on conditioning environment of income, assets differentiation
4.5. Objective
Research on population’s consumption level and structure
Measures of implementation
4.5.1. Research on environment of population’s consumption level and structure
4.5.2. Research on tendencies of population’s consumption level and structure
Expected qualitative results
Findings of research into environment of population’s consumption level and
structure
Findings of research into tendencies of population’s consumption level and structure
4.6. Objective
Research on population’s savings and investments
Measures of implementation
4.6.1.Factors conditioning savings and investments
4.6.2.The national context conditioning savings and investments
Expected qualitative results
Findings of research on factors conditioning savings and investments
Description of the national context conditioning savings and investments
4.7. Objective
Research on housing and the lived environment
Measures of implementation
4.7.1.Research on the context of housing and the lived environment in Lithuania
4.7.2.Research on the tendencies and the conditioning factors of housing and the lived
environment
Expected qualitative results
Findings of research on the context of housing and the lived environment in Lithuania
Findings of research on the tendencies and the conditioning factors of housing and the
lived environment
4.8. Objective
Research on life quality based on gender
Measures of implementation
4.8.1. Analysis of status quo of life quality based on gender
4.8.2. Analysis of tendencies and factors conditioning life quality based on gender
Expected qualitative results
4.8.1.Findings of analysis of status quo of life quality based on gender
4.8.2.Findings of analysis of tendencies and factors conditioning life quality based on gender
The fourth thematic field – research on population’s material well-being will include
employment possibilities, shadow economy, business development and entrepreneurship
education, creation of a socially-responsible labour market, socio economic inequality (income,
assets differentiation), population’s consumption level and structure, of savings and investments,
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research on housing and the lived environment as well as research into life quality on gender basis
and according to social and age groups.
The relevance of the problems related to increasing employment possibilities and
reducing unemployment is highlighted in the EU strategy Europe 2020 which seeks to increase
the employment level of population aged 20-64 up to 75 per cent by paying particular attention to
ensuring a more active participation of young people, older people and low qualification workers
in labour market as well as strengthening integration of legal migrants in labour market. The EU
states seek to use research on employment and labour market in order to adjust relations between
market and society (by reducing social exclusion, increasing employment possibilities and being
satisfied with one’s employment contract, creating family-favourable work relations) as well as
relations between labour market and particular sectors (by contributing to efficiency of
professional training, changes in qualifications and forecasts, social dialogue, personnel and career
management, professional orientation).
Research on employment and labour market in Lithuania has become more active since
2000: in May 2001, a programme of increasing employment in the Republic of Lithuania in 2001–
2004 was prepared and confirmed; it foresaw the necessity of a closer cooperation with research
institutions and social partners. Research on labour market expanded after having used the
resources of the EU structural funds in 2004-2005 and much important work was done but it
remained episodic and segmented (Gruževskis and Gražulis, 2008; Gruževskis and Blažienė,
2008; Daujotis, Kvedaras, Gruževskis et al., 2008; Bagdžiūnienė, Gruževskis, Junevičius et al.,
2008; Gruževskis, Junevičius, Moskvina et al., 2008; Beresnevičiūtė, Gruževskis, Leončikas et
al., 2008).
However, in Lithuania, applied research on employment and labour market is dominant,
theoretical and international research is lacking, comparability of available information is scarce;
recently, the research on labour market is of applied nature; statistical research methods are rarely
employed, multi-disciplinarity and cooperation between researchers from various fields is lacking
and their research methodology is insufficiently referred to.
The aim set in Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth” is to
reach 75 per cent employment among people aged 20–64 by 2020.2 In order to reach this goal in
2 Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. COM, 2010.
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the EU, it is necessary to create additional 17.6 million work places. Unfortunately, in the
aftermath of the crisis, in 2011, the employment level fell to 68.9 per cent 3 , and, in 2012,
unemployment exceeded 10.0 per cent. Though the number of work places rose by 1.5 million by
the middle of 2011, it has not been sufficient to compensate for the 6 million of work places lost
since 2008 in the EU. Because of the slower growth of the EU economy after the crisis, negative
prospects and growing differences between member states and regions, it is even more difficult to
achieve such goals as growth of employment, enhancement of social cohesion and combating
poverty.
One of the most fundamental aims of Europe2020 is total employment and social cohesion.
The prospects of increasing employment, on the one hand, depend on the EU’s ability to increase
the growth and effectiveness of economy by implementing a stimulating macroeconomic policy
(decreasing inflation, interest rate, deficit of state budget), and, on the other hand, it is necessary
to implement a corresponding microeconomic structural policy (promoting investments,
innovations, industry, business) that would create favourable conditions to increase employment
– to increase the number of work places and create new work places, facilitate transition from one
work place to another, provide work force offer that corresponds to the increasing demand of
labour market. Employment policy not only should help economic revival in the short term but
also ensure necessary social investments in the future – in the long term – that would create
conditions for increasing budget revenue (and not forcefully and continually decreasing budget
expenditure).
The employment statistics regarding Lithuania’s population indicate that the set aims are
especially important for our country as well. According to the data from research into labour force
continuously conducted by Statistics Lithuania, the general employment of population in the
first six months of 2010 fell to 57 per cent, and the unemployment reached a record level of
17.8 per cent. Though it decreased in 2011-2012 by 2.1 percentage points, it still remains high and
exceeds the EU average (in 2012, unemployment in Lithuania reached 13.3 per cent, in the EU
10.5 per cent).
Employment of some social groups is especially low: for instance, employment of older
working people (aged 55-64) was approximately 48 per cent, all rural population also
3 EU Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review – March 2012.
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approximately 48 per cent, and employment of inhabitants with low-level education was about
five times lower than that of population with higher education. Employment of population with
lower-level education was only 18 per cent in 2009; meanwhile, employment of inhabitants with
higher-level education was 62 percent and that of inhabitants with higher education – 86 per cent.
Other negative tendencies are also evident in Lithuania’s labour market:
in recent years, the tendency of decreasing employment of working-age people is
increasing in Lithuania, it does not raise any doubt according to official statistical data. The level
of unemployment has reached a threatening level that is substantially higher in the group of young
people (15-24 years) than the average of the country.
there still are rather big regional differences in population’s employment,
unemployment, income level, labour market and accessibility of social services, while territorial
(in-country) mobility of labour market in Lithuania traditionally remains small.
long-term unemployment has been one of the major problems related to unemployment
in Lithuania (referring to people remaining unemployed for one year and longer). The economic
deprivation caused by this phenomenon during the period of economic difficulty is especially
complicated and bears negative consequences not merely on the mental health and psychological
well-being of an unemployed individual but also on the everyday well-being of people surrounding
him or her (Gallie et al., 2001).
though the level of unemployment is high in the country and level of education of the
population is relatively high, shortage of qualified staff is becoming one of the main hindrances
to the development of Lithuania’s economy. Qualification of labour force often does not match
market needs, the phenomenon of structural unemployment and low professional mobility are
evident.
In the programme, much attention is paid to analysis of problems related to social
economic inequality. The focus is on the role of social security, social inequality, poverty, social
exclusion, de-commodification, social development, citizen participation and non-governmental
organizations in regard of marginalised and other social risk groups. Alongside research into
marginalised groups, research into the “middle class”, which forms the basis of societal stability,
as well as gender research and research pertinent to the elderly people are also developed.
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The importance of social security programme comes to the fore in this context. This
programme is aimed at compensating income in labour market for persons facing social risk and
members of marginalised groups. In order to achieve social justice, not merely economic, it is
necessary to research models of Lithuania’s social policy and social administration (social
security) in the general political-historical context, to foresee their developmental perspectives, to
describe and to compare them.
As a consequence of globalization and neoliberalism, the attention paid to population’s
social security lessened in 1980-2010; social security came to be seen as “burden to economy”,
“encouraging dependants”, “stigmatizing”, etc. It is to some extent true but referring merely to the
“passive social policy” based on benefits that was dominant in the 20th century. The 21st century
social policy is oriented towards “active social policy” that sees social benefits only as a helping
means and seeks in all possible ways “enablement” of its citizens mostly through new governance,
active acting of communities and non-governmental organizations and social networking means.
Active social policy is forming an essentially different discourse of economic and social policy
and is becoming a determinant paradigm in sociology, political sciences, public administration,
economy and other social sciences.
RESEARCH TOPIC 5: INNOVATIVE RESEARCH INTO FACTORS OF LIFE
QUALITY
5.1. Objective
Research on sustainable educational policy and life-long learning
Measures of implementation
5.1.1. Status quo research on sustainable educational policy and life-long learning
5.1.2. Research on tendencies and conditioning factors in sustainable educational policy and
life-long learning
Expected qualitative results
Findings of status quo research on sustainable educational policy and life-long
learning
Recommendations regarding sustainable educational policy and life-long learning
5.2. Objective
Research into working life
Measures of implementation
5.2.1. Research on working life in various economic sectors
5.2.2. Research on working life according to social groups and age categories
Expected qualitative results
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Findings of the research on working life in various economic sectors and suggested
solutions
Findings of the research on working life according to social groups and age categories
and suggested solutions
5.3. Objective
Research on social, economic and legal security
Measures of implementation
5.3.1. Status quo research into social, economic and legal security
5.3.2. Research on tendencies and alternatives in social, economic and legal security
Expected qualitative results
Findings of the status quo research on social, economic and legal security
Findings of the research on tendencies and alternatives in social, economic and legal
security
5.4. Objective
Research on psychological well-being and dependence of happiness on income level
Measures of implementation
5.4.1. Status quo research on psychological well-being and dependence of happiness on
income level
5.4.2 Research on tendencies and conditioning factors of psychological well-being and
dependence of happiness on income level
Expected qualitative results
Findings of the status quo research on psychological well-being and dependence of
happiness on income level
Findings of research on tendencies and conditioning factors of psychological well-
being and dependence of happiness on income level
5.5. Objective
Research into sustainable well-being of life
Measures of implementation
5.5.1. Status quo research and research on alternatives in sustainable well-being of life
5.5.2. Research on conditioning factors of sustainable well-being of life
Expected qualitative results
Findings of status quo research and research on alternatives in sustainable well-being
of life
Findings of research on conditioning factors of sustainable well-being of life
5.6. Objective
Research on sustainable culture and moral-ethical values
Measures of implementation
5.6.1. Educational research on sustainable culture and moral-ethical values
5.6.2. Research into tendencies and conditioning factors of sustainable culture and moral-
ethical values
Expected qualitative results
Educational findings of research on sustainable culture and moral-ethical values
Findings of research on tendencies and conditioning factors of sustainable culture and
moral-ethical values
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5.7. Objective
Research on co-relations between culture and economics
Measures of implementation
5.7.1. Status quo research on co-relations between culture and economics
5.7.2. Educational research on co-relations between culture and economics
Expected qualitative results
Findings of status quo research on co-relations between culture and economics and
recommendations
Educational findings of research on co-relations between culture and economics and
recommendations
5.8. Objective
Research on participating approach in the context of life quality
Measures of implementation
5.8.1. Research on participating approach of various societal groups
5.8.2. Status quo research on participating approach
5.8.3. Research on tendencies in participating approach
Expected qualitative results
Findings of the research on participating approach of various societal groups and
recommendations
Findings of the status quo research on participating approach and recommendations
Findings of research on tendencies in participating approach and recommendations
5.9. Objective
Research on social investments and innovations
Measures of implementation
5.9.1. Research on conditioning factors in social investments and innovations
5.9.2. Research on tendencies in social investments and innovations
Expected qualitative results
Findings of the research on conditioning factors in social investments and innovations
and recommendations
Findings of the research on tendencies in social investments and innovations and
recommendations
The fifth thematic scope – innovative research on non-economic factors of life quality
– overarches the programme. The main research areas: sustainable educational policy and life-
long learning, work life and happiness at work, sustainable culture, moral-ethical values, social
economic and legal security, psychological well-being, dependence of happiness on income level,
sustainable (ecological) well-being of life, co-relations between culture and economics,
participatory decision-making, social investments and innovations.
The world experience suggests that to create a basis for increase in population’s life quality,
it is necessary to develop a learning society, promote research, new technologies and
innovations. In a society where shopping centres have replaced fundamental research, commercial
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objectives have substituted professional development and improvement of professional level in
the educational system, this aim is hardly achievable. In order to solve this challenge, investments
in research are necessary. It is necessary to prepare researchers, professionals, highly-qualified
specialists who would, first and foremost, be able to work professionally. Theoretical research
schools, directions that would provide a young people with options of choosing an educational
institution and studies, “a life direction”, i.e. clear models of professional career need to be
supported. Moreover, in this context, advisers on Lithuania’s economic policy should come not so
much from big businesses or oligarchies (who often lobby for their own interests) but rather they
should be independent experts-researchers.
Increasing effectiveness of the educational system and implementation of the conception
of the learning society in the context of growing economy is an important factor (Guidelines for
education: Strategic principles of educational development, 2002; Strategy for ensuring life-long
learning, 2004). The life-long learning necessity for adults and the need to assess and acknowledge
such learning arose almost four decades ago in North American continent (the USA, Canada) and
in Australia, while in many European countries they became particularly relevant in the last
decades of the 20th century. Following the emergence of postmodern societies in which knowledge
became the major source of future advantages, and human intellectual resources started to be seen
as the new “grey capital” that equals that of land, work and capital and that has to be used and
renewed throughout the entire life (Field, 2002). In France, Great Britain, Ireland have
accumulated most experience in this field, and, in the last 15-20 years, many other European
countries have introduced systems (across all educational levels) of identification of learning that
occurred in diverse learning environments, its assessment and acknowledgement, have created
assessment methodologies and have defined the most effective methods of assessment.
Meanwhile, research in this field in Lithuania is fragmeted, there is a lack of coherence with
research on social problems such us unemployment and decreasing life quality. The requirement
of adaptation and flexibility in regard of labour market that the system of education has to take
into consideration is a composite part of the conception of forming a learning society. In Lithuania,
it is necessary to carry out research on development of professional (special) and transversal
competences by providing individuals who are joining the labour market not only with knowledge
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but also with competences necessary for the world of work that will determine an adult’s
successful employment and activities in an organization:
the existing research is still not systemic, not directed toward realization based on
research findings in real life in improving population’s quality of life;
research on professional terminology is especially relevant in the era of globalization,
when preservation of national identity is sought for under the conditions of interference of
languages and cultures and when integration into the context of global social phenomena.
Improvement of transversal linguistic competences and skills and studies of cultural phenomena
would improve not only special competences of various types and levels but also the quality of
life and contribute to increase employment possibilities.
One of the transversal competences that is necessary in the contemporary world of work is
the competence of self-projection; research on its development and use is making only the first
steps in Lithuanian universities. Having carried out research envisioned in this programme and
having provided the self-projection competence in university, the graduates will acquire a
competitive advantage in employment and will be able to project work-related activities on his or
her own by taking into consideration the specific nature of work and the level and nature of
responsibility.
The role of life-long learning in increasing employment possibilities and promoting their
development as well as the need to assess and acknowledge such learning emerged almost four
decades ago in North American and in Australia. During the last 15-20 years, many other European
countries have introduced systems (across all educational levels) of identification of learning that
occurred in diverse learning environments, its assessment and acknowledgement, created
assessment methodologies and defined the most effective methods of assessment. Much important
research findings has already been published in these countries with regard to assessment and
acknowledgement of learning in the spheres of professional training and higher education.
One of the most urgent problems regarding Lithuania’s economic and social development
that has not been sufficiently researched is determining the need for labour market – the need
of specialists in different sectors of the Lithuanian economy and activities. On the one hand,
in the context of information society and knowledge economy, the need for educated, highly-
qualified professionals and qualified specialists is rising; on the other hand, however, such people
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who are trying to leave Lithuania because they cannot realize their potential here, find possibilities
for self-expression. Moreover, all this is happening under the conditions of rising unemployment.
Thus, one of the most acute problems pertaining employment arises – how many and what
specialists does the Lithuanian economy need that would be on demand today and necessary in
the future?
The framework programme for research and innovation Horizon 2020 envisions the
serving of smart research for the creation of inclusive, innovative and safe society.
Research on factors ensuring psychological well-being would provide Lithuania as a
developing region with an opportunity would increase Lithuania’s psychological well-being state,
scientific attractiveness, would create conditions for implementing initiatives appropriate from the
scientific and public perspective in Lithuania.
Psychological well-being in Lithuania were started to be researched in a more
comprehensive way only a few years ago (Bagdonas, 2013). However, factors of ensuring
psychological well-being in teenage years and adolescence, young adult and elderly life have not
been researched sufficiently. It has not been determined what impact on psychological well-being
of Lithuania’s population is done by modernization of various processes (health, education, culture
and other spheres), implementation of various programmes of decreasing social exclusion and
increasing employment for which funding is allotted from the Lithuanian and EU budgets.
The raising index of population’s happiness can be a reliable indicator of effectiveness
of social innovations and economic usefulness. Unfortunately, though Lithuania has been using
the financial support of the EU for ten years already, the psychological well-being (happiness)
index of Lithuania’s population continues to be one of the lowest in Europe. This implies that from
the perspective of population’s psychological well-being, the funds of the Lithuanian budget and
the EU haven not been used effectively. Thus, it is important to research what strategies and
programmes indeed impact the psychological well-being of the Lithuanian population and what
actions can be discarded. In addition, it is important to analyse the problems impeding sustainable
societal development and possibly lessening population’s psychological well-being. They include
unemployment, social inequality, violence at the workplace and educational institutions, failure to
assess the needs of vulnerable groups (for instance, problems related to early diagnostics of
individuals who have experienced abuse, problems related to early identification of vulnerability
50
of victims and witnesses, problems relate to ensuring the psychological well-being of adults and
children stemming from migration of population), etc.
One of the strategic guidelines of improving life quality and increasing employment that
is given much attention as regards Lithuania is creation of ecological economy, ecological
agriculture and green workplaces. Insufficient workplaces are being created in Lithuanian
regions, especially rural areas. In economically underdeveloped regions, many rural inhabitants
work in traditional sectors of the country’s economy: agriculture, forestry, and fishery. Slow and
sporadic development of non-traditional (alternative) spheres of ecological economic activities in
rural areas does not encourage creating new workplaces. Because of differences in regional
business development and creation of workplaces, the rate of unemployment of inhabitants of the
working age in rural areas is 1.8 times higher than in cities.
Transition to ecological economy would revive Lithuanian agriculture, food industry and
would allow for taking up the place in the EU in the sphere of production of food products that
are becoming more expensive in the world. In fact, it is necessary to revive the Lithuanian
countryside where employment is very low. Transition to ecological economy, green villages,
creation of green communities would be one of the key directions in increasing the employment
of Lithuania’s rural inhabitants – the elderly, women, young people, long-term unemployed
persons and low-qualified workers. What is more, Lithuania’s past history in agriculture, human
mentality, love for nature and land is a very good potential for effective ecological activities.
The development of economy and green workplaces is of priority directions in
improving quality of life and increasing employment in Lithuania. As experience of foreign
countries shows, employment in eco-activities has shown positive dynamics during the process of
world crisis.
Following the crisis, in energy economy of renewable resources, 1.12 million
workplaces have been created in the EU. Besides, their potential in 2020 is assessed as adding 5
million more workplaces in energy economy of renewable resources.
In the branch of ecological construction, France is an example of good experience in
fighting crisis and creating green workplaces. In France, the number of workplaces in transition
to higher standards of energy saving rose from 90 thousand in 2006 to 180 thousand in 2012. In
Germany, high level of employment was reached in housing renovation. The programme of
51
housing renovation in Germany ensures 300 thousand workplaces annually. In Hungary, annual
renovation of 5.7 per cent flats, according to forecasts, will allow creating up to 184 thousand new
workplaces in 2015.
The potential for increasing employment is also high in other branches – in saving
natural biological diversity, waste recycling, agriculture and forestry. As organic food
products require more labour input and their cost in the European market is higher, the economic
effect of this production and its impact on employment should be assessed very positively.
The development of eco-branches and green workplaces should be one of priority
objectives of structural policy in Lithuania. In transition to ecological (green) economy and
creation of green workplaces, it is purposeful to take into consideration the ILO4 recommendations
for Central and Eastern European countries, especially the Baltic countries. The recommendations
state that it is necessary to create such diversification of economy where there is a transition from
traditional agriculture production to high-quality food industry and other industry branches that
create higher added value and more productive workplaces.
The key principle followed by the programme researchers states that life quality of
population is the most important and major indicator of the effectiveness of the state’s
policy. Therefore, it is expedient to answer the questions of how well-being and quality of
life of Lithuania’s population has changed in the period of market economy, what
achievements and major problems are evident in this sphere, what possible solutions are
available and what perspectives are seen in the future.
III. EXPECTED QUANTITATIVE RESULTS
Indices
Academic
year
2016-2017
Academic
year
2017-2018
Academic
year
2018-2019
Academic
year
2019-2020
R&D articles in journals included in
Clarivate Analytics and Scopus
databases referred publication list.*
20 25 35
40
R&D articles in periodical reviewed
research journals included in other
internationally recognized
databases*.
20 25 35
40
4 Employment, Growth and Social Justice. 9th European Regional Meeting in Oslo (Norway), April 2013.
International Labour Organization. Report by Director-General.
52
R&D monographs and studies (not
based on a dissertation) published by
internationally recognized research
publishing houses
3 5 7
9
R&D monographs and studies (not
based on a dissertation) published by
other research publishing houses
5 8 10
12
Higher education textbooks 5 6 7 8
Membership in editorial boards of
research journals 3 4
5
Organized international R&D events 8 8 8 8
Organized national R&D events 8 8 8 8
Contracted R&D services 5 8 10 12
Research-business cooperation
agreements 3 4
5
Implemented international R&D
projects 5 6 7
8
Implemented national R&D projects 7 10 15 20
Number of patents issued 1 2
Number of licences issued 1 1
Doctoral students of industrial
doctorate 1 1
2
Post-doctoral researchers 1 1 2 3
Participation in working groups
formed by state governance
institutions, state and municipal
institutions and organizations,
economic entities
3 4
5
Consultations provided to the
general public or economic entities 3 4
5
Membership in international
working groups, associations, expert
groups
3 4
5
R&D promotion activities 5 5 5 5
* Not less than 50 percent of research production prepared in foreign languages (English is given
priority).
Possibilities of using the expected results:
53
1. The research carried out within the programme, collected information and research data will
allow revealing pre-conditions for improving life quality and employment possibilities, effective
governance models and methods.
2. Research on improvement of life quality in increasing effectiveness of public sector institutions
will contribute to creation and development of effective models of governance of public and
private sectors, improvement of life quality in developing and implementing e-governance models
and measures.
3. Research on nteraction between public and private sectors and effectiveness of governance will
created conditions for modernizing governance models of Lithuanian institutions, public service,
and effective governance of inter-sector cooperation. Possibilities of balanced representation of
interests in the state’s governance and models of effective participation in creation of public policy
by employing tools of social network analysis will be analysed.
4. Research in the field on entrepreneurship will create pre-conditions for improving
entrepreneurship policy, entrepreneurship education and development of population’s
employment possibilities both in public and private sectors.
5. Research carried out within the programme will allow systemically analysing the insufficiently
researched problem of life quality: revealing the essence and content of life quality, its complex
composition, developmental tendencies, raising the major problems, envisioning their solutions,
suggesting strategic directions for improving life quality in the future. A comprehensive research
into the life quality of Lithuania’s population, analysis of the development of Lithuania’s
population’s life quality in 1990-2015, comparisons between Lithuanian and international
situations in this sphere will allow providing forecasts until 2030, preparing recommendations
how the Lithuanian economy should be revived, what priorities the state should set in
implementation of the State Progress Strategy until 2030.
6. The research results will be useful for improving employment policy, modernizing labour
market, implementing the perspective of flex-security, increasing employment of various social
groups and age groups and promoting their integration in labour market, and preparing
recommendations regarding shortages of the legal regulation in Lithuania.
7. A comprehensive research on the change of family models from the inter-generational
perspective (focused on trajectories of family models and social network analysis) will reveal the
54
diversity of family models in Lithuania and their change, most common family models will be
defined with regard to different birth cohorts, influences among various family models and related
social networks will be analysed. This will contribute to formulation of research-based
recommendations regarding measures of the family policy in Lithuania.
8. Research on monitoring of demographic ageing will reveal the process of population’s ageing
and its consequences as well as the socio-economic situation of elderly people and will created
pre-conditions for assessing the results of the implementation of the national strategy for
overcoming the consequences of population’s ageing. Research on subjective well-being will
assess factors of an individual’s subjective well-being and successful ageing.
9. Comprehensive research on the social security and health care of Lithuanian and EU population
will allow analysing models of inter-disciplinary cooperation in improving conditions of people
experiencing social risk, assessing possibilities for modernizing social services for families. An
analysis of legal regulation of the system of personal health care will be done and research into
the field of health promotion problems, including mental health, will be carried out.
10. Research findings will contribute to modernization of models of social policy and social
administration. The impact of globalization and Europeanization on national systems of welfare
will be researched and defined. Analysis of Lithuania’s family policy and its interpretation from
the international comparative perspective will be don. Active social policy research including
analysis of dynamics of application of social policy factors as well as analysis of the relation
between social policy factors with business development and employment indices will be
implemented.
11. Comparative analysis of the economic situation, research on gender issues in Lithuania
including study of gender-sensitive budget, study of international trade from the perspective of
gender issues and research into increasing competitiveness of women’s businesses will reveal the
economic situation of men and women in the country and will create pre-conditions for
formulating perspectives regarding future changes in the field.
12. Research on improving life quality by developing and implementing models and measures of
e-government and participation citizenship will allow determining the indicators of assessment
and the specific measures that state institutions need in order to improve the situation. This will
allow improving effectiveness of communication between citizens and public institutions, involve
55
citizens in government’s decision-making better, and orient the provided administrative services
towards citizens more.
13. Research focused on creation of an innovative environment will analyse measures of
governance of research and studies and the impact of development of research and technologies
on competitiveness, will assess tendencies of change in higher education systems, and will create
integral innovations-oriented models of research governance.
14. Findings of research on effectiveness of the system of education in Lithuania (quality,
accessibility, and system management), social dialogue in the system of education and factors of
the change in the system of education will contribute to optimizing of services of education and
their quality.
15. Research on improvement of professional competence in the system of higher education will
assess the role and importance of education in the context of improving life quality as regards the
acquisition of transversal competences (especially competences of metacognitive self-projection)
and professional competences (document administration, language for specific purposes in various
fields). In this way, the research findings will contribute to improvement of the educational process
in the system of higher education.
16. Through the implementation of this programme, qualified specialists of social research will
be educated. Doctoral studies will become more attractive, more possibilities will emerge for
researchers who acquired their education and research experience abroad and who return to
Lithuania.
56
IV. COOPERATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS
No. Name
Universities
1. University of Aberdeen (Ireland)
2. Adam Mickiewicz University (Poland)
3. Ajou University (Korea)
4. Altenholz High School of Administration (Germany)
5. Arizona State University (JAV)
6. University of Aveiro (Portugal)
7. Baku State University (Azerbaijan)
8. Belarusian State University (Belarus)
9. Bialystok University of Technology (Poland)
10. University of Bergen (Norway)
11. Berlin School of Economics and Law (Germany)
12. University of Bern (Switzerland)
13. School of Economics and Management of Public Administration in Bratislava
(Slovakia)
14. Free University of Brussels (Belgium)
15. Masaryk University in Brno (the Czech Republic)
16. Corvinus University of Budapest (Hungary)
17. Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague (the Czech Republic)
18. Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University (Ukraine)
19. Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University (Ukraine)
20. Educational Research Association (USA)
21. Eurasia International University (Armenia)
22. Ewha University (Korea)
23. Fatih University (Turkey)
24. Federal Academy of Public Administration (Germany)
25. Fernando Pessoa University (Portugal)
26. Gangneung-Wonju National University (Korea)
27. University of Ghana (Ghana)
28. Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno (Belarus)
29. University of Graz (Austria)
30. University of Ilorin (Nigeria)
31. Faculty of Law University of Indonesia (Indonesia)
32. Inholland University (the Netherlands)
33. ISM University of Management and Economics (Lithuania)
34. Johannes Kepler University Linz (Austria)
35. University of Cadiz (Spain)
36. Kaliningrad State University (Russia)
37. Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (Turkey)
38. Karol Adamiecki University of Economics in Katowice (Poland)
57
39. Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)
40. Kazakh National Pedagogical University (Kazakhstan)
41. University of Cologne (Germany)
42. Kenyatta University (Kenia)
43. Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Ukraine)
44. Kingston University (the United Kingdom)
45. University of Cyprus (Cyprus)
46. Christian Albrechts University Kiel (Germany)
47. Klaipėda University (Lithuania)
48. Copenhagen Business School (Denmark)
49. University of Cordoba (Spain)
50. Korea University (Korea)
51. KROK University (Ukraine)
52. Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University (Poland)
53. Kuban State University (Russia)
54. University of Lapland (Finland)
55. Police Academy of Latvia (Latvia)
56. LCC International University (Lithuania)
57. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (Lithuania)
58. Lithuanian University of Agriculture (Lithuania)
59. Linnaeus University (Sweden)
60. University of Lyon 1 (France)
61. University of Lyon 2 (France)
62. Technical University of Loja (Ecuador)
63. University of Lodz (Poland)
64. London Southampton University (the United Kingdom)
65. Taras Shevchenko National University of Luhansk (Ukraine)
66. Lund University (Sweden)
67. University of Science Malaysia (Malaysia)
68. Malmö University (Sweden)
69. M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia)
70. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Criminal Service (Germany)
71. Free International University of Moldova (Moldova)
72. Moldova State University (Moldova)
73. National Chengchi University (Taiwan)
74. Centre for Migration Law of the Radboud University Nijmegen (the Netherlands)
75. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (Germany)
76. Faculty of Law in Osijek (Croatia)
77. University of Oslo (Norway)
78. Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University (Russia)
79. South Illinois University (USA)
80. Rīga Stradiņš University (Latvia)
81. Transport and Telecommunication Institute in Riga (Latvia)
82. East Carolina University (USA)
58
83. Saxony Police College (Germany)
84. University of Salvador (Argentina)
85. Saint Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance (Russia)
86. Polytechnic Institute of Santarém (Portugal)
87. University of Zaragoza (Spain)
88. University of Savoy (France)
89. Siam University (Thailand)
90. Silesian University in Opava (the Czech Republic)
91. Södertörn University (Sweden)
92. Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski (Bulgaria)
93. Istanbul Bilgi University (Turkey)
94. Süleyman Demirel University (Turkey)
95. University of Šiauliai
96. T. C. Maltepe University (Turkey)
97. Tallinn University (Estonia)
98. International Institute for Democratic Transition (Hungary)
99. David Agmashenebeli University in Tbilisi (Georgia)
100. Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (Georgia)
101. Tbilisi University (Georgia)
102. Tbilisi State Institute Of Economic Relations (Georgia)
103. University of Texas (USA)
104. Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín (the Czech Republic)
105. University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (Slovakia)
106. Ukrainian Academy of Banking of the National Bank of Ukraine (Ukraine)
107. Uppsala University (Sweden)
108. West Kazakhstan Academy of Humanities (Kazachstan)
109. Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain)
110. Warsaw School of Economics (Poland)
111. Ryszard Lazarski University of Commerce and Law in Warsaw (Poland)
112. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University (France)
113. Turība University (Latvia)
114. Institute of Business Management (Pakistan)
115. Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
116. Vilnius University (Lithuania)
117. VIT University (India)
118. Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania)
119. German Police University (Germany)
120. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
121. University of Wrocław (Poland)
122. WHL Graduate School of Business and Economics (Germany)
123. University of Zagreb (Croatia)
International organizations and state institutions
124. European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
59
125. European Investment Bank
126. European Investment Fund
127. European Commission
128. European Science Foundation (ESF)
129. European Parliament
130. Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)
131. Kaunas City Municipality
132. Klaipėda City Municipality
133. Latvian Academy of Sciences
134. Court of Appeal of Lithuania
135. Supreme Court of Lithuania
136. Lithuanian Labour Exchange
137. Research Council of Lithuania
138. Lithuanian Academy of Sciences
139. Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania
140. Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania
141. Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania
142. Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania
143. Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania
144. President of the Republic of Lithuania
145. Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania
146. Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania
147. Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania
148. Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania
149. Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania
150. Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania
151. Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania
152. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania
153. Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania
154. Government of the Republic of Lithuania
155. Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania
156. Lithuanian Business Confederation
157. Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania
158. Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson
159. Panevėžys City Municipality
160. Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania
161. Šiauliai City Municipality
162. Institution of the Ombudsperson for Children's Rights
163. State Child Rights Protection Institutions
164. Vilnius City Municipality
165. Fire and Rescue Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of
Lithuania
166. State Consumer Rights Protection Authority
Associations, business entities, non-governmental organisations, etc.
60
167. Achema
168. Office of Lawyer Irmantas Norkus and partners Raidla Leijins & Norcous
169. Law company Eversheds Saladžius
170. Professional Partnership of Lawyers Motieka ir Audzevičius
171. Law company ,Valiūnas Ellex
172. Professional Partnership of Lawyers Markevičius, Gerasičkinas ir partneriai
173. Professional Partnership of Lawyers Jurevičius, Balčiūnas ir Bartkus
174. Law Office „Balčiūnas, Grajauskas, Leadell
175. Professional Partnership of Lawyers Triniti LT
176. Association Investors’ Forum
177. Institute of Responsible Business and Mentoring
178. Bitė
179. British Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania
180. British Council
181. British Embassy in Lithuania
182. Labour Market Research Institute
183. Delfi
184. Dujotekana
185. European Consumer Centre in Lithuania
186. European University Association (EUA)
187. Goethe Institute
188. CSR Network Lithuania
189. Infobalt
190. Information Technology and Communications Department under the Ministry of
the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania
191. Military Police
192. Kėdainiai Tourism and Business Information Centre
193. Lithuanian Association of Responsible Business
194. Institute of the Lithuanian Language
195. Lithuanian Bar Association
196. Chamber of Judicial Officers of Lithuania
197. Lithuanian Association of Economists
198. Lithuanian Institute of History
199. Language Teachers’ Association of Lithuania
200. Lithuanian Chamber of Notaries
201. Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists
202. Lithuanian Social Research Centre
203. Lithuanian Lawyers Association
204. Lithuanian Association of Property Valuers
205. Lithuanian Center for Human Rights
206. Association of Judges of the Republic of Lithuania
207. State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine
208. Centre for Social Support in Marijampolė
209. National Association of Financial Services Consumers
61
210. National Courts Administration
211. NordLB
212. Telia
213. International Association of Universities
214. Civic Responsibility Foundation
215. Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts
216. French Cultural Center
217. PricewaterhouseCoopers
218. Respublika
219. AB SEB bankas
220. Social Research Institute
221. Swedbank
222. Education Exchanges Support Foundation
223. Transparency International Lithuanian Chapter
224. State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service under the Ministry of Social
Security and Labour
225. State Consumer Rights Protection Authority
226. Veidas
227. Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos
228. Knowledge Economy Forum
229. National Association of Financial Services Consumers
230. Human Rights Monitoring Institute