Possibilities of using social capital in Pieriga region [Latvia]. Summary of doctoral thesis for the scientific degree (Dr.oec.) | Sociālā kapitāla izmantošanas iespējas Pierīgas reģionā. Promocijas darba kopsavilkums ekonomikas doktora (Dr.oec.) zinātniskā grāda iegūšanai

The hypothesis of the Ph.D. paper: using social capital can promote the development of enterprises and municipalities in Pieriga region (Latvia). According to the hypothesis, the aim of the Ph.D. paper is to investigate the possibilities of using social capital in Pieriga region’s enterprises and municipalities. To achieve the aim, the following research tasks are set four: (1) to analyse the presently available researches on using social capital; (2) to analyse and characterise the economic situation of Pieriga region, the Riga agglomeration, and the impact of social capital on development; (3) to investigate the impact of social capital on Pieriga region’s enterprises and municipalities; (4) to determine the use of social capital in Pieriga region’s most perspective amalgamated municipalities; (5) to quantitatively evaluate the social capital of amalgamated municipalities and its components. The Ph.D. paper’s research results are structured in four chapters. Chapter 1 includes the topic’s theoretical background and a review of contributions of scientists from various countries regarding the use of social capital. The elements of social capital have been theoretically evaluated. Social capital in relation to business development has been studied. The contribution of Latvian scientists regarding social capital and its use was evaluated. Chapter 2 contains a justification for the selected region, respectively, the rural territory of Pieriga statistical region, as well as a characterisation of Pieriga region. The development indicators of the region’s districts were analysed, and indicators for identifying the Riga agglomeration were determined. As a result, the Riga agglomeration was characterised. In Chapter 3, the results of a businessmen survey conducted in Pieriga region are presented, the research methodology is described, the level of social capital in enterprises was analysed according to the selected social capital indicators, and the level of social capital was analysed according to the confidence indicator. The social capital indicators and an enterprise’s gross turnover were compared. The use of social capital in the enterprises of Pieriga region and the Riga agglomeration’s internal area were compared and analysed. A methodology was elaborated to evaluate the social capital index in a civil parish. The social capital indexes of civil parishes in Pieriga region were calculated and their correlation with the development indexes of civil parishes was determined. In Chapter 4, the advantages of models for perspective amalgamated municipalities in relation to social capital use perspectives were evaluated by using the hierarchy analysis method and engaging nine experts. The experts chose the second model for amalgamated municipalities, in which any amalgamated municipality has emerged from a town and a rural civil parish, as the most optimal one in Pieriga region. The indicators for the social capital index and the social capital subindexes were elaborated; the social capital index for 12 amalgamated municipalities in Pieriga region was calculated and assessed. The research results, included in the Ph.D. paper can be used for elaborating government policies in socio-economic development and education of enterprise managers in social capital issues, as well as for government institutions that are engaged in implementing regional development policies and their control. In the conclusion of the Ph.D. paper, the main conclusions are drawn, the most significant problems are exposed and recommendations for their solution are given.