Sustainable agriculture synthesizes a variety of concepts associated with agricultural practices and their socio-economic impacts. In this article, some-requirements, for the development of sustainable-agriculture in Lithuania are analysed within the ecological economics framework. First, sustainable agriculture is discussed within the context of environmental economics. After this more theoretical part, the Common Agricultural Policy reforms, trends of sustainable agriculture in EU and requirements for the development of sustainable agriculture in Lithuania are elaborated.
Sustainable agriculture synthesizes a variety of concepts associated with agricultural practices and their socio-economic impacts. In this article, some-requirements, for the development of sustainable-agriculture in Lithuania are analysed within the ecological economics framework. First, sustainable agriculture is discussed within the context of environmental economics. After this more theoretical part, the Common Agricultural Policy reforms, trends of sustainable agriculture in EU and requirements for the development of sustainable agriculture in Lithuania are elaborated.
Sustainable agriculture synthesizes a variety of concepts associated with agricultural practices and their socio-economic impacts. In this article, some-requirements, for the development of sustainable-agriculture in Lithuania are analysed within the ecological economics framework. First, sustainable agriculture is discussed within the context of environmental economics. After this more theoretical part, the Common Agricultural Policy reforms, trends of sustainable agriculture in EU and requirements for the development of sustainable agriculture in Lithuania are elaborated.
Sustainable agriculture synthesizes a variety of concepts associated with agricultural practices and their socio-economic impacts. In this article, some-requirements, for the development of sustainable-agriculture in Lithuania are analysed within the ecological economics framework. First, sustainable agriculture is discussed within the context of environmental economics. After this more theoretical part, the Common Agricultural Policy reforms, trends of sustainable agriculture in EU and requirements for the development of sustainable agriculture in Lithuania are elaborated.
The authors of the article state that the development of precariat is a social phenomenon produced by the neoliberal political and economic project, for the scientific analysis of which both worldwide and in Lithu- ania, according to the authors, insufficient attention is paid. The article introduces a qualitative analysis reviewing the formation and develop- ment of precariat, as a comparatively new qualitative economic-social phenomenon. The influence of this phenomenon for various areas of the societal life has not raised any doubts recently, yet they have huge influence on such areas as closer and more distant work environment, the opportunities of social dialogue and social security of employees. Theoretically it is not clear if the development of precariat should be considered as the formation of "some kind of class" with its own attrib- utes, or "work status", where an employee is merely short of a number of things within his work environment and his social security rights are not ensured. Even though for some "voluntary" precariat representatives such unstable, "unbound" situation associates with the "economics of happiness", for many members of involuntary precariat it marks a much greater exploitation by the employers, less security, "dequalification" and worse rights in the area of social security. At the end of the article the authors provide their conclusions and pro- posals regarding the issues related to the undefined status of precariat, as well as possible solutions. Increasing the scope of social security and the ensuring the guarantees of self-employed is one of the measures in socially oriented countries to solve the issues related to the precariat. Allocation of basic, universal income for all residents is one of the pos- sibly effective measures in improving the situation of precariat and other residents and ensuring social safeness in modern world. Another needed measure for overcoming the negative conditions of precarious- ness is effective social work with its reviving of values of life and people abilities by means of social services in the present world. Social work with its professional and ethical strength can enable the necessary "par- ticipative" and "empowerment" changes in policy and politics on the local, national and international levels and development towards social cohesion and sustainability in society.
The authors of the article state that the development of precariat is a social phenomenon produced by the neoliberal political and economic project, for the scientific analysis of which both worldwide and in Lithu- ania, according to the authors, insufficient attention is paid. The article introduces a qualitative analysis reviewing the formation and develop- ment of precariat, as a comparatively new qualitative economic-social phenomenon. The influence of this phenomenon for various areas of the societal life has not raised any doubts recently, yet they have huge influence on such areas as closer and more distant work environment, the opportunities of social dialogue and social security of employees. Theoretically it is not clear if the development of precariat should be considered as the formation of "some kind of class" with its own attrib- utes, or "work status", where an employee is merely short of a number of things within his work environment and his social security rights are not ensured. Even though for some "voluntary" precariat representatives such unstable, "unbound" situation associates with the "economics of happiness", for many members of involuntary precariat it marks a much greater exploitation by the employers, less security, "dequalification" and worse rights in the area of social security. At the end of the article the authors provide their conclusions and pro- posals regarding the issues related to the undefined status of precariat, as well as possible solutions. Increasing the scope of social security and the ensuring the guarantees of self-employed is one of the measures in socially oriented countries to solve the issues related to the precariat. Allocation of basic, universal income for all residents is one of the pos- sibly effective measures in improving the situation of precariat and other residents and ensuring social safeness in modern world. Another needed measure for overcoming the negative conditions of precarious- ness is effective social work with its reviving of values of life and people abilities by means of social services in the present world. Social work with its professional and ethical strength can enable the necessary "par- ticipative" and "empowerment" changes in policy and politics on the local, national and international levels and development towards social cohesion and sustainability in society.
The researchers of the Lithuanian Social Research Center analyzed the regional consequences of the processes of socio-economic transformations that had taken place in recent decades and their impact on the well-being of the population across the country. The book summarises the results of the research, which was funded by a grant No. GER-005/2017 from the Research Council of Lithuania. The main aim of this book is to contribute to the knowledge of the country's regional development, emphasizing that the inhabitants of Lithuania, depending on where they live, have different living conditions and opportunities, which contradicts the fundamental principles of democratic society. Ongoing processes that have changed the structure of the country's economy have influenced the territorial structure of the labor market, and these changes have caused negative migration phenomena. Negative migration phenomena have strongly influenced the demographic spatial structure of the whole country, which has triggered changes in public service networks and all social and economic infrastructure. These changes create different business and working conditions in different regions, as well as different opportunities for access to employment, incomes, education and other public services for residents of different municipalities.
The researchers of the Lithuanian Social Research Center analyzed the regional consequences of the processes of socio-economic transformations that had taken place in recent decades and their impact on the well-being of the population across the country. The book summarises the results of the research, which was funded by a grant No. GER-005/2017 from the Research Council of Lithuania. The main aim of this book is to contribute to the knowledge of the country's regional development, emphasizing that the inhabitants of Lithuania, depending on where they live, have different living conditions and opportunities, which contradicts the fundamental principles of democratic society. Ongoing processes that have changed the structure of the country's economy have influenced the territorial structure of the labor market, and these changes have caused negative migration phenomena. Negative migration phenomena have strongly influenced the demographic spatial structure of the whole country, which has triggered changes in public service networks and all social and economic infrastructure. These changes create different business and working conditions in different regions, as well as different opportunities for access to employment, incomes, education and other public services for residents of different municipalities.
The researchers of the Lithuanian Social Research Center analyzed the regional consequences of the processes of socio-economic transformations that had taken place in recent decades and their impact on the well-being of the population across the country. The book summarises the results of the research, which was funded by a grant No. GER-005/2017 from the Research Council of Lithuania. The main aim of this book is to contribute to the knowledge of the country's regional development, emphasizing that the inhabitants of Lithuania, depending on where they live, have different living conditions and opportunities, which contradicts the fundamental principles of democratic society. Ongoing processes that have changed the structure of the country's economy have influenced the territorial structure of the labor market, and these changes have caused negative migration phenomena. Negative migration phenomena have strongly influenced the demographic spatial structure of the whole country, which has triggered changes in public service networks and all social and economic infrastructure. These changes create different business and working conditions in different regions, as well as different opportunities for access to employment, incomes, education and other public services for residents of different municipalities.
The researchers of the Lithuanian Social Research Center analyzed the regional consequences of the processes of socio-economic transformations that had taken place in recent decades and their impact on the well-being of the population across the country. The book summarises the results of the research, which was funded by a grant No. GER-005/2017 from the Research Council of Lithuania. The main aim of this book is to contribute to the knowledge of the country's regional development, emphasizing that the inhabitants of Lithuania, depending on where they live, have different living conditions and opportunities, which contradicts the fundamental principles of democratic society. Ongoing processes that have changed the structure of the country's economy have influenced the territorial structure of the labor market, and these changes have caused negative migration phenomena. Negative migration phenomena have strongly influenced the demographic spatial structure of the whole country, which has triggered changes in public service networks and all social and economic infrastructure. These changes create different business and working conditions in different regions, as well as different opportunities for access to employment, incomes, education and other public services for residents of different municipalities.
The idea of harmonizing economic growth with the laws of development of society and the environment is expressed in the concept of sustainable development. In the frame of sustainable development an exceptional importance is attached to studying material flows, therefore management of waste flows must not contradict the principles of sustainable development. In agreement with M. Jacobs, it is possible to affirm that waste management in the context of sustainable development means using materials in closed cycles. Investigating socio-economic efficiency of municipal waste management means studying the organizational waste management process and factors disclosing characteristic features of this process, making deep comparative socio-economic analysis of waste management options and studying waste managements acts both on national and local level in order to reveal the ways of increasing socio-economic efficiency in municipal waste management. This study is induced by the necessity of changing the traditional waste management of depositing it in landfills, by recycling using not only national and international funds, but by mobilizing resources of local waste management systems as well. It is natural, that the policy of waste management, in which neither the scale of economic damage nor future waste management expenditure were evaluated, was orientated towards disposal of waste in refuse dumps. This means transferring problems to future generations, and this cardinally contradicts the concept of sustainable development. Therefore the question arises, what waste management systems should be considered to be efficient from the socio-economic viewpoint. Researches made in EU countries show that these are systems resources of which are directed to waste recycling and continuous its development. In Lithuania, the importance of waste management is emphasized in national strategy of environmental protection and waste recycling promotion has become the most significant waste management task in recent years, therefore attention is given to socio-economic waste management results. For establishing regional waste management systems, to cover the expenses of collecting, sorting out and transporting secondary materials, two main sources of funds are foreseen, that is, general tariff (or local levy) and funds from "Program of product and packaging waste management". Fixing general tariff depending on treatment expenses for separate waste flows or setting two-tariff charge on sorted and mixed waste is assigned to most urgent means, not only stimulating collection of secondary material but supporting financially the development of this process as well. However, when increasing general tariff all variables should be evaluated, i. e., tendencies in changes of amount and composition of the waste, distribution of wasteholders, number of waste operators on the market, their internal resources available and efficiency of their usage, etc. Otherwise, increase of tariff may be based neither in a social nor in an economic aspect. In the research, waste management priorities in the context of a sustainable development are revealed (based on socio-economic aspects) and internal reserves of municipal waste management systems due to which socio-economical waste management efficiency can be increased are identified. Research problem. Socio-economic and environmental aspects of waste management as well as the role of waste materials in the system of sustainable development have been more or less investigated in works of foreign scientists, the problems of municipal waste management have been analyzed in publications of international organizations as well as in works by foreign authors. In these studies, most attention is concentrated on the process "exploitation of natural resources – economic growth – waste formation" analysis and feasibility studies for modifying it in order to achieve sustainable development aims. Publications of international organizations contain abundant technical and statistical information on waste formation and management, nevertheless, economic studies are scarce, superficial and usually based on the experience of a separate country. They are important from a practical point of view and are of rather educational than scientific character. Among Lithuanian scientists theoretical aspects of sustainable development most widely have been investigated by R. Čiegis, feasibility researches of sustainable development are being carried out in separate sectors of economy – issues of sustainable transport development are being investigated by G. Paliulis, G. Ignatavičius, V. Oškinis, issues of sustainable development in energetics are studies by V. Jankauskas, D. Štreimikienė, I. Konstantavičiūtė, feasibility studies in sustainable development of industry are researched by J. Staniškis, V. Arbačiauskas, V. Pivoras, sustainable development of tourism is investigated by A. Rondomanskaitė, R. Hopenienė, A. Kamičaitė. And other scientists. Scientists give more and more consideration to studies of relationship between sustainable development and public interests, issues of regional and local sustainability and problems of evaluating sustainable development. Scientific studies on socio-economical aspects of municipal waste management are scanty. Works by A. Spruogis and B. Jaskelevičius, J. Čepinskis, A. Jankauskas, M. Ubartas, A. Lebedis, J. Danys, B. Zigmontienė, S. Vasarevičius and sociological researches carried out by the scientists of Kaunas University and the author of this thesis in cooperation with the scientists of Šiauliai University should be mentioned. So far, little attention has been given to research in efficiency of municipal waste management systems and analysis of the problems of managing and financing these systems. Scientific works on assessment of government policy in the field of waste management are scarce and there are few expert analysis about the effectiveness of regulations and economic instruments applied and their influence on the development of waste treatment methods. Not much research has been carried out in the works by Lithuanian authors on the issue of municipal waste management in the context of sustainable development. The review of research and studies in socio-economic problems of municipal waste management in the context of a sustainable development shows their fragmentariness. Modeling an efficient in socio-economic aspect municipal waste management system in the context of sustainable development requires purposeful theoretical studies and empiric research. The subject of the scientific research is socio-economic aspects of municipal waste management system.
The idea of harmonizing economic growth with the laws of development of society and the environment is expressed in the concept of sustainable development. In the frame of sustainable development an exceptional importance is attached to studying material flows, therefore management of waste flows must not contradict the principles of sustainable development. In agreement with M. Jacobs, it is possible to affirm that waste management in the context of sustainable development means using materials in closed cycles. Investigating socio-economic efficiency of municipal waste management means studying the organizational waste management process and factors disclosing characteristic features of this process, making deep comparative socio-economic analysis of waste management options and studying waste managements acts both on national and local level in order to reveal the ways of increasing socio-economic efficiency in municipal waste management. This study is induced by the necessity of changing the traditional waste management of depositing it in landfills, by recycling using not only national and international funds, but by mobilizing resources of local waste management systems as well. It is natural, that the policy of waste management, in which neither the scale of economic damage nor future waste management expenditure were evaluated, was orientated towards disposal of waste in refuse dumps. This means transferring problems to future generations, and this cardinally contradicts the concept of sustainable development. Therefore the question arises, what waste management systems should be considered to be efficient from the socio-economic viewpoint. Researches made in EU countries show that these are systems resources of which are directed to waste recycling and continuous its development. In Lithuania, the importance of waste management is emphasized in national strategy of environmental protection and waste recycling promotion has become the most significant waste management task in recent years, therefore attention is given to socio-economic waste management results. For establishing regional waste management systems, to cover the expenses of collecting, sorting out and transporting secondary materials, two main sources of funds are foreseen, that is, general tariff (or local levy) and funds from "Program of product and packaging waste management". Fixing general tariff depending on treatment expenses for separate waste flows or setting two-tariff charge on sorted and mixed waste is assigned to most urgent means, not only stimulating collection of secondary material but supporting financially the development of this process as well. However, when increasing general tariff all variables should be evaluated, i. e., tendencies in changes of amount and composition of the waste, distribution of wasteholders, number of waste operators on the market, their internal resources available and efficiency of their usage, etc. Otherwise, increase of tariff may be based neither in a social nor in an economic aspect. In the research, waste management priorities in the context of a sustainable development are revealed (based on socio-economic aspects) and internal reserves of municipal waste management systems due to which socio-economical waste management efficiency can be increased are identified. Research problem. Socio-economic and environmental aspects of waste management as well as the role of waste materials in the system of sustainable development have been more or less investigated in works of foreign scientists, the problems of municipal waste management have been analyzed in publications of international organizations as well as in works by foreign authors. In these studies, most attention is concentrated on the process "exploitation of natural resources – economic growth – waste formation" analysis and feasibility studies for modifying it in order to achieve sustainable development aims. Publications of international organizations contain abundant technical and statistical information on waste formation and management, nevertheless, economic studies are scarce, superficial and usually based on the experience of a separate country. They are important from a practical point of view and are of rather educational than scientific character. Among Lithuanian scientists theoretical aspects of sustainable development most widely have been investigated by R. Čiegis, feasibility researches of sustainable development are being carried out in separate sectors of economy – issues of sustainable transport development are being investigated by G. Paliulis, G. Ignatavičius, V. Oškinis, issues of sustainable development in energetics are studies by V. Jankauskas, D. Štreimikienė, I. Konstantavičiūtė, feasibility studies in sustainable development of industry are researched by J. Staniškis, V. Arbačiauskas, V. Pivoras, sustainable development of tourism is investigated by A. Rondomanskaitė, R. Hopenienė, A. Kamičaitė. And other scientists. Scientists give more and more consideration to studies of relationship between sustainable development and public interests, issues of regional and local sustainability and problems of evaluating sustainable development. Scientific studies on socio-economical aspects of municipal waste management are scanty. Works by A. Spruogis and B. Jaskelevičius, J. Čepinskis, A. Jankauskas, M. Ubartas, A. Lebedis, J. Danys, B. Zigmontienė, S. Vasarevičius and sociological researches carried out by the scientists of Kaunas University and the author of this thesis in cooperation with the scientists of Šiauliai University should be mentioned. So far, little attention has been given to research in efficiency of municipal waste management systems and analysis of the problems of managing and financing these systems. Scientific works on assessment of government policy in the field of waste management are scarce and there are few expert analysis about the effectiveness of regulations and economic instruments applied and their influence on the development of waste treatment methods. Not much research has been carried out in the works by Lithuanian authors on the issue of municipal waste management in the context of sustainable development. The review of research and studies in socio-economic problems of municipal waste management in the context of a sustainable development shows their fragmentariness. Modeling an efficient in socio-economic aspect municipal waste management system in the context of sustainable development requires purposeful theoretical studies and empiric research. The subject of the scientific research is socio-economic aspects of municipal waste management system.
Nowadays investment plays an especially important role. There is no person knowing about how to save money or invest since he or she was born. It is quite difficult process requiring experience, competences and knowledge. Every investment begins from the simple things. When people invest, companies or even countries can invest too. Investments might be successful or not. Today both people and companies invest to various things, because investment is the main engine in various spheres of life and probably is related to everything that surrounds us. It might be difficult to deal with finances in our everyday life, not to mention the larger and more important investments. There are many factors that are related to costs and investment risks and are needed to know, such as taxes, laws, security of personal property. The most common phenomenon these days are investments in foreign companies. It has a significant impact on economic growth both in investing country and in another country which gets investment. Many people leave their home countries and travel around the world or stay in a particular country in order to earn money. In this way, people do not contribute to the growth of their native countries. Another very popular phenomenon – when people work in their own native country, but in foreign-own enterprises. The reason is that foreign companies invest to foreign countries by creating and developing business, thus using foreign workforce. Such companies exist not only in the biggest European countries, but also in Lithuania. Europe has many various factories and companies, which capital comes even from distant countries. Such investments may be concentrated to money or to money plus infrastructure and these types of investment may affect economic growth either in investing country, or in the country getting the investment.
Nowadays investment plays an especially important role. There is no person knowing about how to save money or invest since he or she was born. It is quite difficult process requiring experience, competences and knowledge. Every investment begins from the simple things. When people invest, companies or even countries can invest too. Investments might be successful or not. Today both people and companies invest to various things, because investment is the main engine in various spheres of life and probably is related to everything that surrounds us. It might be difficult to deal with finances in our everyday life, not to mention the larger and more important investments. There are many factors that are related to costs and investment risks and are needed to know, such as taxes, laws, security of personal property. The most common phenomenon these days are investments in foreign companies. It has a significant impact on economic growth both in investing country and in another country which gets investment. Many people leave their home countries and travel around the world or stay in a particular country in order to earn money. In this way, people do not contribute to the growth of their native countries. Another very popular phenomenon – when people work in their own native country, but in foreign-own enterprises. The reason is that foreign companies invest to foreign countries by creating and developing business, thus using foreign workforce. Such companies exist not only in the biggest European countries, but also in Lithuania. Europe has many various factories and companies, which capital comes even from distant countries. Such investments may be concentrated to money or to money plus infrastructure and these types of investment may affect economic growth either in investing country, or in the country getting the investment.
Nowadays investment plays an especially important role. There is no person knowing about how to save money or invest since he or she was born. It is quite difficult process requiring experience, competences and knowledge. Every investment begins from the simple things. When people invest, companies or even countries can invest too. Investments might be successful or not. Today both people and companies invest to various things, because investment is the main engine in various spheres of life and probably is related to everything that surrounds us. It might be difficult to deal with finances in our everyday life, not to mention the larger and more important investments. There are many factors that are related to costs and investment risks and are needed to know, such as taxes, laws, security of personal property. The most common phenomenon these days are investments in foreign companies. It has a significant impact on economic growth both in investing country and in another country which gets investment. Many people leave their home countries and travel around the world or stay in a particular country in order to earn money. In this way, people do not contribute to the growth of their native countries. Another very popular phenomenon – when people work in their own native country, but in foreign-own enterprises. The reason is that foreign companies invest to foreign countries by creating and developing business, thus using foreign workforce. Such companies exist not only in the biggest European countries, but also in Lithuania. Europe has many various factories and companies, which capital comes even from distant countries. Such investments may be concentrated to money or to money plus infrastructure and these types of investment may affect economic growth either in investing country, or in the country getting the investment.
