Paper analyses the recent trends and developments of the VET system in Lithuania related to the attempts of integration of the initial VET schools and the training centres of unemployed without a wide range of preparatory works in layout nature. Author critically analyses the political centralised approaches of such integration providing the overview of the current institutional, socio-economic and educational preconditions and factors. Article concludes that such integration could not help to increase the economic effectiveness, attractiveness of VET and quality of continuing vocational training in Lithuania and even would create new problems and difficulties for the youth, adult learners, unemployed persons and training institutions. Article in Lithuanian. Profesinio mokymo reforma: keliai ir klystkeliai Santrauka.Straipsnyje analizuojami tie profesinio mokymo sistemos pokyčiai Lietuvoje, kurie susiję su pastangomis integruoti pirminio profesinio mokymo mokyklas ir bedarbių mokymo centrus be būtinų pakopinio pobūdžio parengiamųjų darbų. Autorius kritiškai analizuoja požiūrį į tokią integraciją, pateikdamas dabartinių institucinių, socioekonominių ir edukacinių veiksnių analizę. Straipsnyje konstatuojama, kad tokia integracija negali padėti didinti profesinio mokymo ekonominio efektyvumo, jo patrauklumo bei tęstinio profesinio mokymo Lietuvoje kokybės, o gali sukelti naujų problemų ir sunkumų jaunimui, suaugusiesiems, bedarbiams ir mokymo įstaigoms. Reikšminiai žodžiai: profesinio mokymo reforma, darbo rinkos mokymo centrai, profesinės mokyklos, profesinio mokymo efektyvumas, patrauklumas, prieinamumas.
Paper analyses the recent trends and developments of the VET system in Lithuania related to the attempts of integration of the initial VET schools and the training centres of unemployed without a wide range of preparatory works in layout nature. Author critically analyses the political centralised approaches of such integration providing the overview of the current institutional, socio-economic and educational preconditions and factors. Article concludes that such integration could not help to increase the economic effectiveness, attractiveness of VET and quality of continuing vocational training in Lithuania and even would create new problems and difficulties for the youth, adult learners, unemployed persons and training institutions. Profesinio mokymo reforma: keliai ir klystkeliai Santrauka Straipsnyje analizuojami tie profesinio mokymo sistemos pokyčiai Lietuvoje, kurie susiję su pastangomis integruoti pirminio profesinio mokymo mokyklas ir bedarbių mokymo centrus be būtinų pakopinio pobūdžio parengiamųjų darbų. Autorius kritiškai analizuoja požiūrį į tokią integraciją, pateikdamas dabartinių institucinių, socioekonominių ir edukacinių veiksnių analizę. Straipsnyje konstatuojama, kad tokia integracija negali padėti didinti profesinio mokymo ekonominio efektyvumo, jo patrauklumo bei tęstinio profesinio mokymo Lietuvoje kokybės, o gali sukelti naujų problemų ir sunkumų jaunimui, suaugusiesiems, bedarbiams ir mokymo įstaigoms. Reikšminiai žodžiai: profesinio mokymo reforma, darbo rinkos mokymo centrai, profesinės mokyklos, profesinio mokymo efektyvumas, patrauklumas, prieinamumas.
The selection of criteria is based on their suitability to reflect social policy results of different socially-economically developed EU countries. Lithuania can be attributed to the welfare states only if the absolute majority of the criteria reach or exceed the estimates of the average values of the EU countries. The research based on the criteria above is carried out in two stages. The first stage deals with the criteria that indicate if the socio-economic development of the country is moving towards a socially-oriented state. Such a development guarantees the most rational distribution of socio-economic resources in the development of a socially oriented country. At this stage, the analysis involves such indicators as income inequality, poverty, middle-class size. In the second stage such indicators as monthly average wages, social protection benefits and monthly old-age pension per capita as well as such indicators as GDP per capita, government spending on social protection as a percentage of GDP and unemployment rate are investigated. All these indicators in Lithuania are compared with average indicators in the EU. Findings of the research show that most indicators analyzed are far below the EU average. The country, therefore, can be attributed neither to socially-oriented countries (that is, countries that use their socio-economic resources in the most rational way in the process of welfare state formation), nor to the countries that have already developed one of the types of a welfare state. Lithuania is still in transition to a welfare state. Therefore, welfare state is irrational concept in Lithuania, which satisfies the object of analysis only by its form and not by content.
The selection of criteria is based on their suitability to reflect social policy results of different socially-economically developed EU countries. Lithuania can be attributed to the welfare states only if the absolute majority of the criteria reach or exceed the estimates of the average values of the EU countries. The research based on the criteria above is carried out in two stages. The first stage deals with the criteria that indicate if the socio-economic development of the country is moving towards a socially-oriented state. Such a development guarantees the most rational distribution of socio-economic resources in the development of a socially oriented country. At this stage, the analysis involves such indicators as income inequality, poverty, middle-class size. In the second stage such indicators as monthly average wages, social protection benefits and monthly old-age pension per capita as well as such indicators as GDP per capita, government spending on social protection as a percentage of GDP and unemployment rate are investigated. All these indicators in Lithuania are compared with average indicators in the EU. Findings of the research show that most indicators analyzed are far below the EU average. The country, therefore, can be attributed neither to socially-oriented countries (that is, countries that use their socio-economic resources in the most rational way in the process of welfare state formation), nor to the countries that have already developed one of the types of a welfare state. Lithuania is still in transition to a welfare state. Therefore, welfare state is irrational concept in Lithuania, which satisfies the object of analysis only by its form and not by content.
The selection of criteria is based on their suitability to reflect social policy results of different socially-economically developed EU countries. Lithuania can be attributed to the welfare states only if the absolute majority of the criteria reach or exceed the estimates of the average values of the EU countries. The research based on the criteria above is carried out in two stages. The first stage deals with the criteria that indicate if the socio-economic development of the country is moving towards a socially-oriented state. Such a development guarantees the most rational distribution of socio-economic resources in the development of a socially oriented country. At this stage, the analysis involves such indicators as income inequality, poverty, middle-class size. In the second stage such indicators as monthly average wages, social protection benefits and monthly old-age pension per capita as well as such indicators as GDP per capita, government spending on social protection as a percentage of GDP and unemployment rate are investigated. All these indicators in Lithuania are compared with average indicators in the EU. Findings of the research show that most indicators analyzed are far below the EU average. The country, therefore, can be attributed neither to socially-oriented countries (that is, countries that use their socio-economic resources in the most rational way in the process of welfare state formation), nor to the countries that have already developed one of the types of a welfare state. Lithuania is still in transition to a welfare state. Therefore, welfare state is irrational concept in Lithuania, which satisfies the object of analysis only by its form and not by content.
The selection of criteria is based on their suitability to reflect social policy results of different socially-economically developed EU countries. Lithuania can be attributed to the welfare states only if the absolute majority of the criteria reach or exceed the estimates of the average values of the EU countries. The research based on the criteria above is carried out in two stages. The first stage deals with the criteria that indicate if the socio-economic development of the country is moving towards a socially-oriented state. Such a development guarantees the most rational distribution of socio-economic resources in the development of a socially oriented country. At this stage, the analysis involves such indicators as income inequality, poverty, middle-class size. In the second stage such indicators as monthly average wages, social protection benefits and monthly old-age pension per capita as well as such indicators as GDP per capita, government spending on social protection as a percentage of GDP and unemployment rate are investigated. All these indicators in Lithuania are compared with average indicators in the EU. Findings of the research show that most indicators analyzed are far below the EU average. The country, therefore, can be attributed neither to socially-oriented countries (that is, countries that use their socio-economic resources in the most rational way in the process of welfare state formation), nor to the countries that have already developed one of the types of a welfare state. Lithuania is still in transition to a welfare state. Therefore, welfare state is irrational concept in Lithuania, which satisfies the object of analysis only by its form and not by content.
Regions are the subsystems of a state as an economic-social system. The level of integration of these subsystems into a unified national system is what a sustainable national economic development depends on. Since year 2010, when the districts in Lithuania were abolished, higher level administrative regions no longer exist. Lithuanian higher administrative division issue must be resolved by year 2013, when the new period of EU support would start. It is important to correctly distinguish the new arrangements, in order to successfully implement regional policies and effectively use the EU support. The authors of the article present their proposals regarding the new units. [.]
Regions are the subsystems of a state as an economic-social system. The level of integration of these subsystems into a unified national system is what a sustainable national economic development depends on. Since year 2010, when the districts in Lithuania were abolished, higher level administrative regions no longer exist. Lithuanian higher administrative division issue must be resolved by year 2013, when the new period of EU support would start. It is important to correctly distinguish the new arrangements, in order to successfully implement regional policies and effectively use the EU support. The authors of the article present their proposals regarding the new units. [.]
Poverty is one of the most essential problems that most countries face over the world. Lithuania joined the implementation of Millennium Development Goals, which were adopted in 2000 by all the world's Governments with the aim to reduce the proportion of people living in poverty. It was anticipated to reduce the poverty level from 16% to 13% by 2005 in Lithuania. But according to the data of Statistics Lithuania, the poverty level in Lithuania increased from 15.9% in 2003 to 16.9% in 2005. The solution of this problem demands a purposeful policy of the Government as well as the endeavor of people themselves.One of the first tasks to be performed when implementing poverty reduction measures in the country is the evaluation of poverty prevalence and the estimation of the number of the poor. The indicators chosen for poverty measurement highly influence the results of poverty research. Thus, indicators adjusted to the peculiarities of the country and based on its living standard should be used when the measuring poverty level.The article analyses the definition of poverty as well as its development since the 18th century. The key indicators for measuring poverty (relative poverty line, absolute poverty line, subjective poverty line, poverty gap, etc.) and their main limitations are discussed in the article. Poverty dynamics and income differentiation indicators in Lithuania are analysed in the second part of the article.The authors suggest that poverty measurement based on the relative poverty line is not effective in Lithuania, because it doesn't show the real situation of poverty in the country. According to the relative poverty concept, people are considered to be living in poverty if their standard of living is substantially less than the general standard of living in society (ie. 50% of average consumption expenditure in Lithuania). Relative poverty measures are usually used in highly developed countries where more emphasis is put on satisfying intellectual and social rather than physical needs. It is argued that the absolute poverty line should be used in underdeveloped countries (in Lithuania as well) when calculating the poverty level Absolute poverty measured by the official poverty line representing the annual income required to allow a family of a given size to purchase the range of goods and services that are seen as constituting the minimum acceptable way of life in the country.According to the authors, the main causes of increased poverty in the last period in Lithuania were a too heavy tax burden for employees (which exceeded the average level of taxes in 15 ES countries) as well as a high differentiation of income. ; Skurdas - viena iš aktualiausių problemų, su ja susiduria ne tik Lietuvos, bet ir išsivysčiusių pasaulio šalių gyventojai. 2000 m. Jungtinių Tautų Tūkstantmečio viršūnių susitikime, kuriame dalyvavo 189 pasaulio šalys, buvo numatyti Tūkstantmečio plėtros tikslai, kurių vienas iš svarbiausių - mažinti gyventojų skurdą ir socialinę atskirti. Įgyvendinti šį tikslą siekia ir Lietuva. Remiantis 2002 m. Jungtinių Tautų pranešimu, Lietuvoje nuo 2000 m. iki 2005 m. buvo numatyta santykinio skurdo lygį sumažinti nuo 16 proc. iki 13 proc. Tačiau Statistikos departamento prie Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės duomenys rodo, kad santykinio skurdo lygis Lietuvoje per šį laikotarpį ne tik nesumažėjo, bet net padidėjo (nuo 16,0 proc. iki 16,9 proc.) šiai problemai spręsti reikia laiku ir kryptingos šalies Vyriausybės politikos ir pačių gyventojų pastangų, nes dažnai pavėluotas skurdą sukeliančių problemų sprendimas nulemia socialinės atskirties šalyje padidėjimą ir skatina gyventojų emigraciją.Vienas iš pirmųjų tikslų, siekiant vykdyti šalies socialinės politikos uždavinius skurdo mažinimo srityje, yra nustatyti tikrąjį skurstančiųjų skaičių ir skurdo lygi šalyje. Pasirinktas vienoks ar kitoks skurdo matavimo rodiklis daugiausia nulemia skurdo tyrimų rezultatus, todėl, siekiant nustatyti tikrąją situaciją šalyje, būtina parinkti kuo geriau tos šalies gyvenimo lygį ir specifiką atitinkančius rodiklius.Šio straipsnio tikslas - išnagrinėti pagrindinius skurdo matavimo rodiklius ir jų ypatumus, išanalizuoti skurdo ir su juo susijusių problemų (pajamų diferenciacijos ir kt.) kitimo tendencijas Lietuvoje ir kartu išryškinti skurdo mažinimo šalyje prielaidas.Straipsnio pradžioje, remiantis mokslinės literatūros šaltinių analize, nagrinėjamos pagrindinės skurdo sampratos nuostatos, toliau analizuojami skurdo matavimo rodikliai bei jų ypatumai ir diskusiniai klausimai. Baigiamojoje straipsnio dalyje, remiantis Statistikos departamento prie Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės duomenimis, nagrinėjami skurdo ir pajamų diferenciavimo rodikliai Lietuvoje, tiriamos skurdo mažinimo šalyje prielaidos.
Lithuania's decision to int egrate itself int o economic and political European structures in the context of integration and globalization causes the need to match wages and labour productivity to the level of other EU countries. When analyzing the relationship between wages and labour productivity in Lithuania and EU-15 countries, a different change in these two indicators is noticed. Till 2009 Lithuanian economy was rapidly growing, the borders of EU countries opened and these changes had influence on the increase in wages and labour productivity . However, an obvious difference is noticed between the wages and labour productivity in Lithuania and other EU countries. The performed analysis has shown that wages (calculating in euros) in Lithuania in comparison to old EU countries are lower 3 to 7 times, but labour productivity calculated as GDP per capita – only 2 times. In rapidly developing count ries wages and labour productivity adjust to economic changes; therefore, there is a necessity in the cont ext of other EU countries to investigate the relationship between wages and labour productivity in Lithuania so that these differences could be gradually reduced.
Lithuania's decision to int egrate itself int o economic and political European structures in the context of integration and globalization causes the need to match wages and labour productivity to the level of other EU countries. When analyzing the relationship between wages and labour productivity in Lithuania and EU-15 countries, a different change in these two indicators is noticed. Till 2009 Lithuanian economy was rapidly growing, the borders of EU countries opened and these changes had influence on the increase in wages and labour productivity . However, an obvious difference is noticed between the wages and labour productivity in Lithuania and other EU countries. The performed analysis has shown that wages (calculating in euros) in Lithuania in comparison to old EU countries are lower 3 to 7 times, but labour productivity calculated as GDP per capita – only 2 times. In rapidly developing count ries wages and labour productivity adjust to economic changes; therefore, there is a necessity in the cont ext of other EU countries to investigate the relationship between wages and labour productivity in Lithuania so that these differences could be gradually reduced.
Processes of integration in Europe induce the comparison of the economic indicators in countries of the European Union. According to the forecasts, it will take some time for the new members of the EU to achieve living standards of the old members even taking into account the support from the structural funds. The article, after discussion of the methodological issues of the concept of the living standard, the major components that describe the living standard and the methods of evaluation of economic inequality, presents the comparative analysis of the living standard of the European Union countries that has been performed by comparing GDP and overall income per capita and by calculating Gini coefficients of distribution of the overall income according to the age and education. The last section of the article provides the evaluation of distribution of the household expenditure in Lithuania in 2004- 2007 by using the Theil and Atkinson class indexes and parametrical Gini coefficients for the measurement of inequality.
Processes of integration in Europe induce the comparison of the economic indicators in countries of the European Union. According to the forecasts, it will take some time for the new members of the EU to achieve living standards of the old members even taking into account the support from the structural funds. The article, after discussion of the methodological issues of the concept of the living standard, the major components that describe the living standard and the methods of evaluation of economic inequality, presents the comparative analysis of the living standard of the European Union countries that has been performed by comparing GDP and overall income per capita and by calculating Gini coefficients of distribution of the overall income according to the age and education. The last section of the article provides the evaluation of distribution of the household expenditure in Lithuania in 2004- 2007 by using the Theil and Atkinson class indexes and parametrical Gini coefficients for the measurement of inequality.
