The article deals with the implementation of the LEADER programme in Poland. The aim of the paper was to present the influence of the LEADER programme 2007 – 2013 on rural areas development taking into account its objectives. This topic is current in the context of the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 evaluation and search for effective tools for supporting rural areas. The results of research conducted in 2016 among residents and local action groups are presented. Firstly, the LEADER programme had little impact on the possibility of finding work outside the agriculture. Secondly, the realized projects have contributed to the improvement of the quality of life of the residents in rural areas, especially when it comes to meeting the needs of tourism and leisure. The programme was of great importance in underpinning social capital in the countryside, especially its behavioural and bonding dimension. It is very significant taking into account the low level of social capital in rural areas in Poland. An overall level of activity of rural residents and other entities increased, so as the propensity to engage in joint initiatives and the level of trust. The observed effects of the LEADER programme may in the future contribute significantly to the endogenous development of rural areas.

The legal regulation of the public sector auditing among the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) of the Northern and Central-European countries holds the potential to offer new perspectives on the functioning and independence of these public audit institutions. This paper aims to examine the external audit practice among the Baltic Sea Region countries as it is defined in the laws and legal acts aimed at the functioning of the particular institution. The task was carried out by conducting an analysis of the legal regulation of the corresponding supreme audit institutions. Overall, SAIs in the Baltic Sea Region closely cooperates with the Parliaments in the reporting phase. Meanwhile, most of them are closely integrated with the legislative power during the phase of the appointment of the head of the audit institution as well as during the budgeting phase and later on during the reporting phase. The research shows that among the Baltic Sea Region countries the Supreme Audit Institutions pursue audits in diverse range of fields as stipulated in the legal regulations. The paper also indicates a space for further research in the field of the SAI legal regulation, audit merit and further interrelation with the executive and legislative powers as well as the impact of such cooperation on the functioning of the accountability system in the particular country.

The aim of the research is to prepare proposals for assurance of the business clusters formation regarding the regional development potential upon study of the clusterization of Lithuanian regional companies. After extensive analysis of scientific literature, the qualification of the cluster, their structure, main features, goals and benefits to its members, region, and sector where cluster is based, are observed. From analysis of relevant secondary data the main problems that hinder the development of clusters in distinct regions of Lithuania are distinguished. It is revealed that clusterization in Lithuanian regions lags far behind big cities, it is much more passive and clusters there often reach only the level of a micro-cluster. Clusters are most developed in the tourism and food industries, using traditional means instead of high-techs, failing to benefit from EU support for clustering development. In order to improve the clusterization situation in Lithuania and its development in the regions, more attention and investment are to be allocated for promoting cooperation between the companies and the business and science, research sectors, and joining the international cluster. The state support should be prioritized in the rural regions locating less clusters, forming a reliable means and communication network for these clusters’ development.

It is important for every country that its territory develops evenly and in a balanced way. In the European Union (EU), a special focus is placed on the development of rural territories, as predominantly rural regions in the EU represent 57% of the territory and 24% of the population. In Latvia, the development of rural territories depends on economic growth in the key industries for the rural areas – agriculture and forestry, and logging that contributed to 4.3% of GDP and employed 9.5% of the labour force in 2011. Therefore, the research aim is to perform an assessment of the administrative territories of Latvia. The research analysed the municipalities of Latvia in terms of population and change in the population as well as in terms of revenue and income and change in the revenue and income. The research found that in Latvia the best economic performance was demonstrated by the municipalities with a population in the range of 8-12 thousand. In the period 2004 – 2014, the number of residents decreased by more than 20% in 49 municipalities of Latvia. Such municipalities are located far away from the capital city, and poor economic performance indicators with a prevailing primary sector were typical of the municipalities. The municipalities with higher tax revenue had larger populations, which increased in the period of analysis, and such municipalities are located in the vicinity of Riga and high economic performance indicators were characteristic of them.

Marvejols is a small town located in Lozère (France). Traditionally, the region was poor with an agricultural oriented economy. However, by the 1960s a new type of business was launched: the residential care facilities for disabled people, especially in relation to Jacques Blanc, a key person in the organization and development of this business. This economic activity brought jobs and new attractiveness, counterbalancing decline in traditional sectors. Nevertheless, currently, situation is less favourable, and the local players try to find out a new strategy, particularly in relation to diversification. In this study, our main aim was to understand conditions of starting and growing of this business. Moreover, we would like to understand current fragilities and attempts to adapt the economy of the territory. In this way, our students and we have chosen this area in relation to the economic and historical weight of its activity. The organization of field trips and survey was conducted in a comprehensive approach perspective. Therefore, we took account parameters working in this territory, such as strategies, psychologies (individual and collective), networks and identities. Human dimensions are strong, especially in discourses, and our main result is a better understanding of the local situation, with comparisons to close cases (Corrèze, Creuse). Furthermore, the quality of the geographical analysis provides working relations with the stakeholders.

The aim of the research is to determine the influence of brand associations on purchase intentions in the framework of organic products. In order to determine the influence of brand associations on purchase intentions in the organic product category, the organic yogurt was chosen as a product. The brands’ criteria grid was elaborated for the selection of the specific yogurt brands and three different yogurt brands were chosen for the research. Nine associations directly or indirectly associated with ecology were generated and approved by experts of marketing and advertising; namely: ‘organic’, ‘natural’, ‘ecological’, ‘healthy’, ‘nutritious’, ‘Lithuanian’, ‘tasty’, ‘regular’, and ‘expensive’. The empirical research with the selected brands and generated associations was composed of two parts: experiment and questionnaire survey. The research results revealed that brand associations have a huge impact on consumer purchase intentions in a framework of organic products. Proper and positive association development positively and directly influences consumer purchase intentions. Positioning of the brand as providing organic products is extremely important when seeking to develop brand associations with organic products; the naturalness, ecology of the product should be emphasised in marketing communication; a brand name should be meaningful and visual marketing communication should expose the ecology. For the future research, the analysis of the influence of brand associations on the conative consumer response in the frameworks of the remaining products categories is necessary.

Competitiveness is the key factor in order to reach the economic transformation, smart growth, governance and legal framework for the state and society for sustainable development that are stated as the major goals in the current planning period in Latvia. High-technology industries are the main drivers of economic activity in developed economies. To ensure data comparability, the official definition of the high-technology industries by Eurostat is applied in this research including two industries: manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations and manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products. The research aims to analyse high-technology industries in Latvia taking into account the competitiveness and the regional allocation using a set of several indicators. According to NUTS 3, Latvia is subdivided into 6 regions; however, the high-technology industries are regionally allocated mainly in two regions, Riga and Pieriga regions. Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products etc. employs 99% of employees in these two regions, manufacture of computer etc. products – 81% despite the fact that only 54% of employees reside in these two regions. The research confirms that the high-technology regional allocation depends on available labour resources and also education and professional training facilities in the region. We conclude that the high-technology industries are competitive in the global market as the share of the high-tech products in total exports is several times higher than the share of these industries in the manufacturing sector or in total economy. The global competitiveness of Latvia’s high-tech industries is stable and gradually rising.

Entrepreneurship education is a relevant topic in today’s study programs of higher education at two levels: as research object and as development of skills while preparing students. In fact, the latter is one of the most important objectives in Lithuanian universities aiming together with other disciplines at developing students’ entrepreneurial skills. The main aim of the article is to analyse theoretical and practical models of entrepreneurship education applied in universities and introduce development trends. Teaching process involves various methods, internships, consultation and instruction, but usually all activities are not systematically applied. From the behavioural perspective, this study analyses students towards entrepreneurship through the opportunity identification, motivational factors, information source, resources impact and entrepreneurial ability. Hypothetical deductive approach was used through a population sample of 194 students of Aleksandras Stulginskis University Faculty of Economics and management. The research summarized in this paper students attitude toward motives, factors encouraging and preventing entrepreneurship and information sources in the higher education institutions. The gap between teaching methods and student attitude towards at entrepreneurship educations can be reduced supplementing collaboration among stakeholders in the entrepreneurship education. In final part of the article, trends of entrepreneurship education in university enabling to assess dimensions of the development of entrepreneurship education are presented.

Zemgale geobotanical region historically was dominated by large broad-leaved forests, but last centuries the high anthropogenic pressure on these territories has reduced the area of these forests. In fragmented landscape small patches of natural broad-leaf forests are protected to preserve the forest structural features, which also function as habitats for rare and protected species. The aim of this study was to compare the natural broad-leaf forest habitats and structural elements and vegetation in woodland key habitats in production forests and protected areas (nature park ''Tērvete'' and nature reserve ''Ukru gārša'') in Zemgale. In total, 12 sample plots were established (the size of sample plot 0.1 ha) in Aegopodiosa forest type. In all sample plots forest structural features were measured and vegetation survey using Braun-Blanquet method was made. In this study, we found that average amount of dead wood varies between 78.7 m**3 haE-1 in woodland key habitats in production forests and 133.0 m**3 haE-1 special protected areas. Considerable amount of broad-leaf natural forests represented by nemoral species (50 – 58% of species richness), which corresponds to these forest type communities in the region.

Importance of the study is determined by increasing consumption of woody biomass as a renewable energy source. Whole-tree harvesting is commonly applied for bioenergy use, however intensified biomass removal from forests can cause significant nutrient loss in soil. Nutrients can be returned to forest ecosystem by fertilizing soil with wood ash, which is generated as a by-product of combustion in wood-burning power plants and heating plants. Studies on ash spreading technological processes and costs so far have been insufficient. Aim of the study is to compare the productivity and prime cost of ash spreading with modular spreading trailer and Amazone mineral fertilizer spreader. According to study results productivity of modular trailer is 0.57 ha hE-1 and the spreading costs are 88 EUR haE-1, but that of mineral fertilizer spreader Amazone – 0.61 ha hE-1 and 41 EUR haE-1, respectively. Despite lower productivity modular trailer is more suitable for spreading wood ash, because a larger amount can be delivered and ash is applied more evenly. Productivity of modular trailer can be increased by technical improvements, like equipping the tractor with a crane and a small excavator bucket. Comparing costs of ash spreading and deposition, additional 8.72 EUR haE-1 were required, when using modular trailer, whereas, when using mineral fertilizer spreader, 77.52 EUR haE-1 can be saved. The main reason for the difference is smaller dosage when using modular spreader and additional loading costs.