Suchergebnisse

This paper examines the economic relations of Estonia and trends in its exports and imports with the most important countries globally in 2008–2014, and presents its export and import transactions in the main commodity groups in 2009–2014.2 Considering the many different tensions that have appeared in world economy and in politics in the recent years, the aim of this paper is to describe their possible impacts on the Estonian economy. The research tasks set are studying of economic and trade relations with Ukraine as one of the largest countries in the EU Eastern Partnership Programme. Also the range of problems and developments related to signing the association agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, as well as the new complicated trade relations arising from economic policy, and developments both in the European context and that of other countries are examined. Also economic and trade relations with Russia are discussed. All this is treated on the background of the relations between Ukraine and Russia in the recent years and their impact on the behaviour of Estonia, the EU, USA and other Western countries. The above-mentioned issues are also viewed in relation to imposing economic sanctions due to relations between Ukraine and Russia.

This international research journal (publication) has been published since 2007 (once a year) and 2011 (twice a year).2 The journal developed as a successor of collections of research papers published in 1984–2006. The subjects of the papers have covered economic policies and their subject areas of many countries on the basis of case studies from one or several countries and considering their mutual relations and comparisons. Besides Estonian economic policy, the papers have treated economic policies of many countries, such as Canada, China, Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, U.S.A. Also other countries have been studied to a lesser extent. Economic policies of the following regions, associations or subject areas have been treated: Europe and the European Union, EU regions, European green capitals, the Baltic States and the Scandinavian region, Eastern and Central Europe, Northern Europe, OECD countries, etc. In addition to traditional areas of economic policy the papers have treated also the issues of finances of the public sector; regional development and development problems of local municipalities, above all the need for and possible directions of the administrative reform; the financial system of the EU; the support structures and support models of the EU; monetary policy and currency exchange rates; eurozone problems; financial and economic crisis; globalisation of the economy; different economic policies to support business development; positions of J.M. Keynes, and many other complex areas. Authors of papers published until now have represented the following countries: Austria, China, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Russia, Slovakia. Besides the above-mentioned countries also Belgium, Finland, France, Lithuania and Poland were represented by authors of papers published before 2007. The editorial team would like to see in the future an even broader geography of economic policy of papers published in the journal. Papers published in this journal are presented and distributed by the following international databases: DOAJ, EBSCO, ECONIS, ESO, SSRN.

The paper treats important problems of regional and local government policy, such as the possibility of and need for the administrative-territorial reform, including merging of municipalities and definition of mutual relationships between the state and local governments and their functions. The need for sustainable and strong municipalities has been emphasised also on the level of the European Union already several years ago. Possible mergers of Estonian county centres with their surrounding rural municipalities, also the possibility for having several centres of attraction in a county are discussed. Statistics on demographic changes in the Estonian population, concentration of the population above all to larger cities, and decrease in rural population are presented. Also statistics, for instance, on changes in the number of pupils in counties are presented. A few suggestions are made for the further development of the regional and local government policy, including based on the considerably more radical activities in Finland in this field.

The problems related to industry are topical because there is no real industrial policy in Estonia today. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the stages of development of Estonian industry in different periods (…–1858, ……, 2010–…). Estonian industry has been predominantly concentrated to Tallinn and its immediate vicinity and to other cities and towns of North Estonia, to a lesser extent also to other larger Estonian cities and county centres and their immediate vicinity. Disposition of industry in Estonia has been predominantly related to appropriate geographical conditions and existence of local natural resources and raw materials, traditions and experience but has also depended on decisions on economic policy in different periods, both on the national and local government levels. After regaining of independence there have been no particular fundamental positive changes in regional industrial development in Estonia, we can rather even talk about regression instead for some places. These are, however, necessary in order to ensure jobs to people in all inhabited regions, above all in rural areas. It would also contribute to a balanced regional development in Estonia.

The paper contains a brief treatment of the economic crisis in Estonia, associating it critically with the general economic situation and reasons. The issues of unemployment, increase in prices and several other important areas are under review. Adoption of euro and the price dynamics in Estonia are treated separately. In the opinion of the author the price increases are not caused by the euro but by the greed for profits and irresponsibility of businesses and traders. National institutions do not view economic policy as an integrated activity either but rather see it as behaviour and choices appropriate for a particular political party. Situation in quite a few areas is critically evaluated, including the activities of the Estonian political parties in power. Organisation of the recent elections of the Estonian Riigikogu (Parliament) is evaluated and suggestions are made both for improvement of the organisation of elections in the spirit of democracy and for the related needs for further development of the Estonian national economy.

The paper gives a concise evaluation of the impacts of the global economic crisis on the Estonian economy in 2009-2010. The main activities performed in the Estonian economy for the alleviation of the crisis have been pointed out. The state budget and its cuts are dwelt upon. Changes in the Estonian economy within the last few years are presented with the related brief assessments. The measures officially planned by government agencies for the current and further stabilisation of the Estonian economy are described. The main activities that should be performed in Estonia in the opinion of the author for the alleviation of and exiting the crisis are pointed out. As overcoming the economic crisis and achievement of subsequent stable development assumes also carrying out several reforms, the paper also briefly dwells on the problems related to the achievement of regional balance and the administrative-territorial reform