LV EN RU DE FR

National and Regional Economy

Course developers

Course abstract

The topics of the course give an in-depth knowledge of the theoretical principles of a market economy and causal relationships at the macro-level in the national and regional economies and contribute to an understanding of how to practically apply them in the management of enterprises, with a special focus being placed on the macroeconomic functions and policies of the government. The course allows revealing the opportunities of regions and the role of local governments in promoting entrepreneurship.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

KNOWLEDGE
1. Students will be able to: demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of processes in the economy and indicators showing the effects on the entrepreneurial environment - test
2. Demonstrate a profound knowledge of regional development processes, the indicators and support instruments for business promotion - test
3. Demonstrate a reasoned understanding of economic policy effects on the entrepreneurial environment and formats and kinds of business and the role of regional and local authorities in business promotion - independent work
SKILLS
4. Independently identify regularities in national and regional economic processes and use the regularities for the purpose of expansion of particular activities - independent work
5. Make management decisions according to the changing situation at the national and regional levels - discussion during seminars
6. Reasonably discuss the functional effects of the national and local governments on the business sector by using the legislation regulating economic and regional development and statistics - discussion during seminars
7. Engage in and assume responsibility for teamwork - group work, preparation of a summary
8. Build up cooperation and organisational skills needed for management - discussion during seminars
COMPETENCE
9. Independently formulate and critically analyse complicated and dynamic economic and regional development problems in the context of entrepreneurship, integrate the acquired knowledge of business management - examination

10. Theoretically and empirically substantiate and assess the effectiveness of economic measures implemented nationally, regionally and locally aimed at providing a favourable entrepreneurial environment - tests, independent work

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Key indicators of the national economy and an analysis of their change; macroeconomic models and their role in an analysis of the national economy ( 2 h lectures, 1 h practical)
2. Economic growth, the evolution of growth theories and the reality in Latvia ( 1 h lecture, 1 h practical)
3. Fiscal policy and its role in regulating the economy; monetary policy and its implementation under the single currency – the euro (2 h lectures, 2 h practicals)
4. High unemployment and inflation – the forms of macroeconomic instability, international economic relations and their role in economic growth ( 1 h lecture, 1 h practical)
5. Test 1: Processes in the national economy, the indicators and their effects on the entrepreneurial environment (1 h practical)
6. Regional development and related support instruments. European Union reginal policies and the regional development policy of Latvia in the EU context (2 h lectures, 1 h practical)
7. Indicators of and analysis methods for regional development. The role of local governments in promoting entrepreneurship (1 h lecture, 2 h practicals)
8. Necessity for territorial planning, the legal and institutional mechanisms for it in Latvia. Characteristics of the EU Funds and their contribution to territorial development (1 h lecture, 2 h practicals)
9. Role of free ports and special economic zones in regional economic development. Support for starting up a business ( 1 h lecture, 1 h practical)

10. Test 2: Regional development processes and indicators and support instruments for business promotion. (1 h practical)

Requirements for awarding credit points

A written examination covering all the topics of the course, which includes both theory and practical issues, has to be passed. Two tests have to be passed as well as two independent assignments have to be completed and activity in seminars has to be assessed positively.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

The student has to submit two independent (home) assignments on “Economic policy effects on the entrepreneurial environment and formats and kinds of business and the role of regional and local authorities in business promotion”, 7-10 pages in length, in electronic format, within the time specified. Each student has to take active part in at least two seminars on economic developments at the national and regional levels.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final mark consists of the following pieces of assessment: a written exam on all the topics covered – 40%, two tests on the following topics: “Processes in the economy and indicators showing the effects on the entrepreneurial environment” and “Regional development processes and indicators and support instruments for business promotion” and independent work – 20%. 10% are equal to one point on a 10-point marking scale.

Compulsory reading

1. Bikse V. Makroekonomika: teorija un politika. LiePA, 2015, 269 lpp.
2. Capello R. Regional Economics. 2nd Revised edition. New York: Routledge, 2016, 354 p.
3. Gods U. Makroekonomika. 2. papild. izd. Rīga: Biznesa augstskola Turība, 2004, 360 lpp.
4. Lībermanis G. Makroekonomika. Rīga: Kamene, 2006, 445 lpp.
5. Mankiw G. N., Taylor M.P. Macroeconomics. 7th ed., Worth Publishers, 2010, 608 p.
6. McConnell, Campbell R. Macroeconomics: principles, problems, and policies. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2012. 499, 37 lpp.

7. Šenfelde M. Makroekonomika. 4.izd. Rīga: RTU, 2012, 244 lpp.

Further reading

1. Ducmane K., Ozoliņa A. Naudas laiki Latvijā. A/S Latvijas avīze, 2013, 250 lpp.
2. Judrupa I. Eiropas valstu ekonomika. RTU, 2007, 332 lpp.
3. Keišs S., Kazinovskis A. Reģionālā attīstība Latvijā: administratīvi teritoriālās reformas norises gaita, problēmas, risinājumi & Regional Development in Latvia: Course, Problems and Solutions of Administrative Territorial Reform. Monogrāfija. Rīga: Vītola izdevniecība, 2014, 616 lpp.
4. Latvijas ekonomikas un uzņēmējdarbības izaicinājumi. A. Saukas un B. Rivžas zinātn.red. Ventspils Augstskola, 2014, 227 lpp.
5. Latvijas ilgtspējīgas attīstības stratēģija līdz 2030. gadam. www.latvija2030.lv
6. Latvijas Nacionālais attīstības plāns 2014. – 2020. Rīga: LR Vides aizsardzības un reģionālās attīstības ministrija, 2014.
7. Liepiņš A. Analītiskā makroekonomika. Rīga: Biznesa augstskola Turība, 2002, 48 lpp.
8. LR likums „Administratīvo teritoriju un apdzīvoto vietu likums” Pieņemts 18.12.2008.
9. LR likums „Likums par ostām” Pieņemts 22.06.1994
10. LR likums „Par pašvaldībām” Pieņemts 19.05.1994.
11. LR likums „Reģionālās attīstības likums” Pieņemts 21.03.2002.
12. LR likums „Rīgas brīvostas likums” Pieņemts 19.05.1994
13. LR likums „Teritorijas attīstības plānošanas likums” Pieņemts 01.12.2011.
14. Mainoties saglabājies, dažādā Latvija, Rīga: Centrālā statistikas pārvalde, 2008, 318 lpp.
15. Mansfield E. Economics. 6th ed. – Norton. New York – Lordin., 1989, 756 p.
16. Pūķis M. Pašu valdība. Rīga: Latvijas Pašvaldību savienība, 2010, 512 lpp.
17. Rifkins Dž. Jaunās ekonomikas laikmets. Rīga: Jumava, 2004, 280 lpp.
18. Snowdon B., Vane M. R. Modern Macroeconomics. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, 2005, 816 p.
19. Šenfelde M., Ņikitina V., Lapiņa I. Makroekonomika. Rīga: Kamene, 2006, 220 lpp.
20. Vaidere I., Vanags E., Vanags I., Vilka I., Reģionālā politika un pašvaldību attīstība Eiropas Savienībā un Latvijā. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds Latvijas Statistikas institūts, 2006, 295 lpp.
21. Vanags E., Vilka I. Pašvaldību darbība un attīstība. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2005, 384 lpp.

22. Zināšanu ekonomika Latvijas lauku un reģionu dzīvotspējai (autoru kolektīvs). Zinātniska monogrāfija VPP EKOSOC-LV, 2018, 325 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Dienas Bizness: nedēļas laikraksts: Latvijas biznesa avīze. Rīga: Diena: Dagens Industri, 2005-. ISSN 1407-2041.
2. Kapitāls: žurnāls lietišķiem cilvēkiem: krāsains biznesa un ekonomikas žurnāls. Rīga: Lietišķās informācijas dienests. ISSN 1407-2505.
3. Latvijas avīze: nacionāli konservatīvs dienas laikraksts. Rīga: Izdevniecība AS „Lauku Avīze”. ISSN 1691 – 1229
4. Latvijas Statistikas gadagrāmata
5. Latvijas Vēstnesis: Latvijas Republikas oficiālais laikraksts. Rīga: Valsts uzņēmums "Latvijas Vēstnesis". ISSN 1407-0391
6. Logs: Latvijas Pašvaldību savienības izdevums. Izdevniecība „Logs”. ISSN 1407 – 3560
7. The Economist: London: Economist Newspaper Ltd. ISSN 0013-0613. Pieejams arī: http://www.economist.com/?sa_campaign=econsubs/europe/subspage/imglink.
8. Vides Vēstis: Vides aizsardzības kluba žurnāls. Rīga : Vides aizsardzības klubs. ISSN 1407-2939.
9. Eiropas Savienības struktūrfondu un Kohēzijas fonda mājas lapa. Pieejams: www.esfondi.lv
10. Eiropas Reģionālās attīstības fonda mājas lapa. Pieejams: www.raim.gov.lv

11. Vides aizsardzības un reģionālās aizsardzības ministrijas mājas lapa. Pieejams: www.varam.gov.lv

Notes

Compulsory course for the ESAF professional master programme Business Management.