<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The factors that have the impact on selfemployment development have been identified and ranked by importance applying method of expert evaluation. Selfemployment start-up is promoted by the increasing demand in foreign markets, export and lack of competences for all activities while the main barriers are unfavourable economics and institutional environment.</abstract>

Evaluation of Self-Employment Development Factors: Latvian Case

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The aim of this article is to research the investment environment and to prognosticate the trends of FDI in Lithuania. The methods of the research include systematic and comparative analysis of the scientific literature and linear regression and trend analysis. The results of the research have revealed that the trend and amount of FDI in Lithuania strongly correlate. The linear regression equation is also growing, which proposes that over the next two years FDI in Lithuania should increase.</abstract>

The Analysis of Investment Environment and Foreign Direct Investment Prognostication: Lithuanian Case

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> High-technology industries that apply the most advanced and cutting edge technologies are frequently analysed as an opposite to low-technology industries. Following a similar approach, services are subdivided by knowledge-intensity into two major dichotomic groups: knowledge-intensive services and less knowledge-intensive services. The aim of the research is to evaluate how these industries perform in reality, whether these industries have the largest value added and highest efficiency and productivity level as it is believed by theory and various policy documents.</abstract>

International Comparison of High-Technology Manufacturing and Knowledge-Intensive Services in the EU

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Globalization of the world economy and increased international trade in economic development of countries seriously affect Customs Services and changes customs functions. Moreover, the measurement efficiency and effectiveness of Customs Services are determined based on an accurate identification of the customs functions to be performed and on the basis of the amount of dynamic analysis. The article shows that significant reduction of the customs fiscal function is identified in the period when Latvia joined the EU Customs Union. The reduction took place due to the country’s efforts to improve business environment and strengthen the competitiveness of enterprises, as well as to improve tax administration system.</abstract>

Development of Customs Fiscal Function in Latvia

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The paper aims to analyse the development of the financial leverage and its determinants in companies producing electricity from wind resources in Latvia during 2005-2012. The financial ratio technique is used to compute the financial leverage in the companies and the regression analysis method is employed to determine the relationships between variables. The results of the analysis revealed that wind electricity generating companies use substantial share of debt and the financial leverage is increasing. Statistically significant relationships were found between the financial leverage and profitability of companies, their growth opportunities, collateral value of assets, size of the company and an effective tax rate. Results will be used to construct weighted average cost of capital (WACC) for the economic assessment of investment into wind electricity sector in Latvia.</abstract>

Financial Leverage and its Determinants in Companies Producing Electricity from Wind Resources in Latvia

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The aim of the paper is to explore the contribution of different types of marketing communication in consumer financial literacy formation from a three component perspective. As a method a survey among the target audience of home loans was used. The authors have focused on consumer financial knowledge, financial behaviour and financial attitude that constitute financial literacy in home loan market. As a result of empirical analysis the authors have found that the biggest contribution to formation of consumers financial literacy (within all three components) have educational web sites of government authorities, official web sites of banks, consultations with bank specialists, school curriculum subjects and opinions of friends, relatives and acquaintances.</abstract>

The Role of Marketing Tools in the Improvement of Consumers Financial Literacy

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The aim of the paper is to determine complex factors influencing passengers’ satisfaction at RIGA International Airport (Latvia). Theoretical evidence was examined and factor analysis was carried out to identify the main groups of factors affecting passengers’ satisfaction at the Airport. The findings of the study show that the most important five factors affecting it are: (1) availability of telecommunications, (2) effective way finding signs, (3) cleanliness of restrooms, (4) courtesy of staff and (5) availability of staff. The results based on this study will help airport managers in the Baltic Sea region to better serve their passengers through introduction of modern technologies and improved attitudes.</abstract>

Factor Analysis of Passengers’ Satisfaction at “RIGA International Airport”

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The presented research describes methods, used to evaluate and choose more efficient solutions, regarding participation in stock market activities. A newly developed forecasting model, based on classically applied and time-proven methodologies, was created. Its aim was to ease the decision-making in the related area as well as to rationalize the optimal investment portfolio structure determination process.</abstract>

Investment Planning in the Context of Business Cycle Volatility

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> This paper’s research focuses on employer brand (EB) development as a solution for public sector organizations to attract the young specialists of Latvia.The author uses monographic research method, selection, comparison, induction and statistical data interpretation to explore the situation and potential outcomes of the proposed approach to Human Resource Recruitment and Selection.The research results show that public organizations in Latvia still need to improve their positioning on labour market and work harder on their EB.</abstract>

Employer Brand Role in HR Recruitment and Selection

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The research deals with the question of how different resources affect the labour market integration of the long-term unemployed youth. The main hypothesis it advances is that the youth who have access to different resources will find more stable jobs or develop their own business after unemployment than those lacking such different kinds of support.In making the education and employment decisions during the transition from school to work, there is strong evidence of the importance for young people to make good initial career decisions and an enduring effect of academic achievement on labour market and education outcomes.This research is based on scientific discussion of different author opinions and survey results of young people as well as on views on the future vision of authors.</abstract>

Integration of Young People into the Latvian Labour Market

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Qualified, loyal and motivated employees are highly demanded by employers and business promoters. The paper deals with employers’ needs and expectations for qualified and loyal employees, and investigates cooperation of employers, educators and municipalities. The following methods were used: analysis of scientific publications; focus group discussions; surveys of employers, teaching staff, students and graduates of VEI. For survey data analysis descriptive statistical analysis, non-parametric statistical test of Kruskal-Wallis and factor analysis were applied. The main findings indicate that besides professional skills and competence, social competence, motivation to work and responsibility are requested as well.</abstract>

Employers’ Needs and Expectations for Qualified Employees (Case Study on the Opinions in One of the Regions in Latvia)

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The world-wide competition of higher education programs makes education institutions to seek for most efficient ways to attract students. The presented academic research is devoted also to the issues on motives and influencing factors for the choice of study programs. The methods applied in the current paper are as follows: analysis of scientific publications, focus group discussions, surveys of possible future students. For the evaluation of different aspects of choice a scale of 1-10 was used. For the data analysis of the survey descriptive statistical analysis, cross tabulations and correlation analysis, as well as analysis of variance (ANOVA) and factor analysis were applied.</abstract>

Factors Influencing the Choice of Higher Education Establishment for Marketing Strategies of Higher Education

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> This research is conducted about compulsive buying behaviour in Estonia. The current research purpose is to find out how many people are affected by compulsive buying behaviour in Estonia and what factors are influencing this phenomenon. The research compares compulsive and usual buyers’ behavioural differences. The sample was 310 respondents and the research revealed that 8% of the respondents were compulsive consumers. Compulsive behaviour is influenced by materialistic factors.</abstract>

Compulsive Buying Behaviour in Estonian Market

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Volume 37 (2023): Issue 1 (January 2023)

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Volume 35 (2021): Issue 1 (January 2021)

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Volume 33 (2019): Issue 1 (January 2019)

Volume 32 (2018): Issue 1 (February 2018)

Volume 31 (2017): Issue 1 (August 2017)

Volume 30 (2017): Issue 1 (April 2017)

Volume 29 (2016): Issue 1 (August 2016)

Volume 28 (2016): Issue 1 (April 2016)

Volume 27 (2015): Issue 1 (August 2015)

Economics and Business

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