Suchergebnisse

The publication was compiled to provide the Lithuanian reader with a comprehensive understanding of genderresponsive economic initiatives. It provides a conceptual and theoretical framework, traces the evolution of work inthis area, shows how gender economics and gender analysis have been used as a tool of a more efficient allocation ofeconomic resources.The article outlines and discusses the main gender problems and their impact into the government economicpolicy not only on the micro– but on the macro level too. It is the discussion about the gender responsive budget,trade liberalisation and gender impact into the trade liberalisation and gender responsive financial policy.The author concludes the integration and implementation of the gender analysis into the Lithuanian governmenteconomic policy could accelerate the sustainable economic growth and soften the consequences of globalisationprocess.

In this article a presently existing public administration system in Lithuania as well as the position of municipalities(subjects of local self–government) in that system are described, the features of the "real" local self–governmentare being formulated, potentially possible groups of problems of local self–government are distinguished and currentlymain problems of municipalities of Lithuania are indicated.The author of the article notes that in Lithuania up till now the concept of the "real" local self–government hasnot been clearly and unambiguously defined yet. That makes the formulation of target goals, tasks and means as wellas their implementation developing the system of local self–government more difficult. Seeking at least partly to fillthe existing gap, the author of the article formulates eight features of the "real" local self–government.Having defined the problem of local self–government as a deviation from the "normal" conditions for thefunctioning of the local self–government system that cause negative changes in the system, the author of the articleshows the relationship between the "normal" conditions for the functioning of local self–government and the formulatedfeatures of the "real" local self–government. According to this relationship the author of the article indicateseight potentially possible groups of problems of local self–government.On the basis of the accumulated knowledge and acquired experience the author of the article points out fivegroups of currently particularly important problems for local self–government of Lithuania, which are conditionallynamed as follows: 1) suppressed independence; 2) insufficient constructiveness of the relationship among differentlevels of government; 3) economic problems of municipalities; 4) not involving community members in managinglocal affairs; 5) inertness of municipalities.

A genesis of the academic programmes in the field of public administration, tendencies of their development in different countries (includingLithuania) and peculiarities of content are discussed in the article. It is shown that in different periods of development of public administration as anacademic discipline tasks and objectives were changing, however permanently the fundamental concerns were effectiveness in achieving the goals ofgovernment and constitutional support (political effectiveness) and competence in the performance of all public enterprises (managerial effectiveness). Itis why academic programmes in the field of public administration were developed taking into account political, legal, managerial and occupationalperspectives. Modern academic programmes of this field are interdisciplinary. By analysing programmes of different universities, it was found that theydiffer from each other in their structure and courses content, in particularly varies their focus (management, political and legal). It is shown thatcontemporary challenges for public administration (ideas of the new public administration and new public management) are giving new tasks for publicadministration academic programmes and therefore the focus of the programmes is changing more and more often emphasising significance ofmanagement subjects.

Spanish electronic government projects are analysed in this article. These projects are the reduction of pricesfor the Internet connection, information society development, modern tax system in Internet, electronic electionpossibilities and perspectives, "Unified Internet window" project, electronic certificates project, telework establishmentand the perspectives of electronic administration. Spanish electronic government were creating in the realizationof individual projects from the year 1998. Spain is a young and quickly developing European Union state andbecause of this the experience of Spanish e-government projects would be very useful for Lithuania.

Lithuania faces difficult dilemmas in the field of old age security. Aging population, weak bonds betweencurrent wages, salaries and amount of (size of) future pensions causes certain dissatisfactions and risks. They along- side with the pressure of certain interest groups which are interested in possibility to enter financial flows and to take benefits from partial privatization of these flows create certain gnoseological, political and ideological climate surrounding the issue of pension reform. In these circumstances the use of neutral, scientific approach would be helpful. Together with more open, comprehensive, democratic discourse it would add to the rationality, prudence of the decisions concerning the issue.Author of the article argues that the currently functioning pay-as-you-go (PAYG) system together with some shortcomings have its advantages which should not be neglected in the discussion on the pension reforms. On the other hand private pension system based on individual accumulation is not so advantages and effective as its por- trayed by its proponents. It is connected with rather high risk both for individuals and for state. The danger of loss of money in the financial markets in case of downfall of the value of securities and the threat to budgetary stability of the country are two major reasons to refrain from overly enthusiastic attitudes towards private, especially manda- tory, pension funds.The experience of Argentina, Hungary, Poland should caution us against impulsive, non-comprehensive de-cision. West European and especially Scandinavian pattern could serve us a good service.

Deeds and decisions made by Lithuanian politicians and public servants are deserving greater public and mass media attention whenever before.Authors directs readers attention to the aspects of significance of ethics in public administration, characterizes the situation of ethics in contemporaryLithuania. Ethical dimension in Lithuanian politics and administration is underestimated. Lithuania has several laws which define ethical principles forpublic servants, prohibit the conflict of interest etc. Laws without their effective implementation are worthless. Professional code of ethics for politiciansand public servants, ethical education and training could help to create ethical climate and ensure public trust which are very important for democracy.Authors concludes that ethical politics and administration in Lithuania could be reached by formulating ethical strategy on the state level.