Updates approved by the Senate of Mykolas Romeris University on 19 April 2018 Resolution No 1SN-31

RESEARCH PROGRAMME FOR 2016-2020

IMPROVING LIFE QUALITY AND ENHANCING

EMPLOYMENT POSSIBILITIES

Vilnius, 2018

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CONTENTS

I. ANALYTICAL REVIEW...... 3 II. AIM, RESEARCH TOPICS, OBJECTIVES, MEASURES OF IMPLEMENTATION, EXPECTED QUALITATIVE RESULTS...... 32 III. EXPECTED QUANTITATIVE RESULTS...... 53 IV. POTENTIAL COOPERATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS...... 58

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RESEARCH PROGRAMME IS IMPLEMENTED BY: Faculty of Economics and Business Management Institute of Education Science and Social Work Institute of Psychology Life Quality Laboratory Gender Research Laboratory Psychological Well-being Laboratory Environmental Psychology Research Cente Sociological Research Laboratory Life-long Learning Laboratory

RESEARCH PROGRAMME WAS PREPARED AND UPDATED 2018 IN ACCORDANCE WITH:

 The Europe 2020 Strategy  The European Commission Justice Programme  The EU Programme Europe for Citizens 2016-2020  The EU Programme Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme 2014-2020  Lithuania’s Progress Strategy Lithuania 2030  Programme of the 17th Government  National Progress Programme for Lithuania for the Period 2014–2020  National Programme for the Development of Studies, Scientific Research and Experimental (Social and Cultural) Development for 2013–2020  Provisions for the Lithuanian Science and Innovation Policy Change, 2016  Resolution adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania on the Plan of Optimizing the Network of State Universities, 2017  The European Commission Renewed EU Agenda for Higher Education, 2017  The European Commission New Skills Agenda for Europe, 2016  The European Commission Assessment of Progress on Structural Reforms, 2017  OECD Reviews of National Policies of Education – Education in Lithuania, 2017  OECD Review of Education 2017, OECD indicators  OECD Economic Survey of Lithuania, 2016  UN Sustainable Development Goals.

I. ANALYTICAL REVIEW

1. The purpose of the research programme Improving Life Quality and Enhancing Employment Possibilities to carry out complex research related to the improvement life quality and enhancement of employment possibilities.

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Universal monetary methods based on the priorities of monetary and fiscal policy has recently increased disappointment in Europe and the world. The mainstream economic paradigm is also changing: the radical liberal consensus Washington doctrine criticised by the experts of global economy and the Nobel Prize laureates is gradually pushed out by modern attitude putting a human at the centre of economic processes. Different from monetary attitude and technocratic practice (which is so popular and deep-rooted in Lithuania), when the market economy quasi circumvents an individual, in the leading countries of the European Union, e.g. Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Scandinavian countries and Switzerland, economic reforms are more orientated towards the objectives which all society is striving to achieve. These objectives are vital for the majority of the population, i.e. the interests of mass social stratification – complete employment and high quality of life. It is believed that only considering the priorities of social objectives it is possible to create powerful grounds for the growth of economy, the modernisation of business, the enhancement of national competitiveness and simultaneously create a stable source of revenue for the state budget. This provision is also confirmed by the world experience. In 2008, by the initiative of the French president Nicolas Sarkozy the Commission of the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress was set up headed by the Nobel Prize laureate, ex-president of the World Bank, Professor of Columbia University Joseph Stiglitz. (Among the members of this Commission were well-known people: economist, Nobel Prize laureate, Professor of Harvard University Amartya Sen and Professor of the Institute of Political Sciences Professor Jean Paul Fitoussi). The conclusion presented in the report of the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress1 can be viewed like a challenge to the current system of indicators assessing social-economic development. GND, inflation and the budget deficit are not reflecting the actual economic situation of the country; its real status and the efficiency of national policy are shown by the indicators of social welfare and the quality of life of the population. Therefore, while assessing the social economic status of the country, it is important to transfer the centre of gravity into the indicators of the welfare and the quality of people lives. The most significant conclusion of the authoritative Commission is the recommendation to apply the system of indicators reflecting people’s welfare instead of statistics orientated towards

1 Stiglitz J. E., Sen A., Fitoussi J.-P. Report by the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress. Paris: Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress, 2010, 292 p.: http://www.stiglitz-sen-fitoussi.fr/documents/rapport_anglais.pdf 4 profit and finances. This system encompasses the following dimensions: labour and employment, material level of living, health, education, inclusion in government decision-making, social links and participation in the community, living environment as well as physical and economic security. In 2015, the Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to the British researcher Angus Deaton for the contribution to the analysis of Consumption, Poverty and Welfare. Deaton’s methodological attitude is based on the data of an individual’s experience and household behaviour. According to the researcher, it enables to achieve more significant results than standardised models of macroeconomics. The researcher has come up to the conclusion that while seeking to create efficient consumption policy which would encourage welfare and reduce poverty, first of all it is necessary to perceive the principles of consumption on the level of an individual as well as on the level of wealthy and poor households. The research of the problems of individual consumption made the researcher analyse closely related welfare and health issues. The perception of separate mechanisms of the choice of consumers’ consumption facilitates the development of economic policy encouraging the welfare of society and the decrease of poverty. The ideas of the enhancement of welfare are closely related to the principal provisions of the strategy of the European Union Europe 2020 the meaning of which comes to the fact that the country’s economic success can be achieved and implemented only having a strong social foundation. Social and economic cohesion is an important priority of the EU economic enlargement dedicated to the reduction of social and economic differences among social groups, EU regions and member states. In accordance with the programme Horizon 2020, seeking to induce the growth of economy and establish workplaces, the European Commission will invest 80 billion EUR in scientific research and innovations. The financing will be given for three main objectives: to strengthen the position of the EU as the leader in science, to insure the leadership in industrial innovation, to invest in main technologies, to increase the possibilities of financing and support of small and medium-sized enterprises and to resolve actual and important problems in six main spheres:  health, demographic changes and welfare;  food security and the development of organic agriculture;  ensuring safe, ecological and efficient energy;  smart, environmentally friendly and integrated transport;  climate change;

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 inclusive, innovative and secure society. The EU membership induces Lithuania to essentially, not formally, perceive the quality of life as the key indicator of the efficiency of economic policy in the development of the country; it is confirmed by significant strategic documents adopted in Lithuania (National Progress Strategy 2030, etc.). The sixteenth Government of the Republic of Lithuania in its 2012-2016 programme emphasizes that its main objective is to create welfare state so that the people of Lithuania would feel dignified, safe and happy. Lithuanian researchers R. Lazutka, B. Gruževskis, V. Kanopienė, A Matulionis, L. Dromantienė, A. Bitinas, J. Aidukaitė, A. Šileika and others have significantly contributed to the research on social development while not much attention was given to life quality of the population, its measurement and evaluation. The growth of macroeconomic indicators frequently does not turn into welfare of society and does not improve the quality of life of the majority of the population – the middle class and separate social groups. Therefore, while evaluating the economic status of the country, it is suggested to apply the system of indicators reflecting the quality of the population instead of the statistics orientated towards the achievements of macro-economy. In this context, Lithuania lacks systematically performed research of the quality of life, which comprehensively, not fragmentally, reflects the trends and problems of the development of the quality of life of the population. 2. Having implemented this programme, first, the development of employment and the quality of life will be systematically analysed as well as the most serious problems demanding urgent solution will be raised. Comprehensive scientific analysis, innovative methods and forecasting will allow to determine the obstacles and causes as well as suggest efficient ways of removing them in the future - in strategic perspective - for efficient improvement of the quality of life and the encouragement of employment and reduction of social economic inequality. Second, in order to be aware of these processes, the analogies of experience of foreign countries or individual and fragmented research works are not sufficient. This programme unites researchers from different backgrounds aiming to eliminate or decrease the level of unemployment, emigration, social economic inequality, dissatisfaction with the governmental solutions an while forecasting the ways of improving the quality of life. This programme encourages researchers for joint action and raise the research level in the area. Third, this programme will contribute to the revitalisation of Lithuanian research and the restoration of the prestige of researchers who undervalued and not demanded in the market economy.

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Overcoming these negative phenomena is significant not only for the theory of Lithuanian research but also for economy. Fourth, this programme will be beneficial while formulating concrete suggestions and recommendations for the Lithuanian government, state institutions implementing the policy of employment and the increase of the quality of life and developing the strategy; simultaneously it will contribute to the enhancement of the validity and efficiency of economic decisions of the state. 3. The essence and content of the programme is reflected by the systematic concept of the quality of life. It should be emphasised that in the programme the employment problem is analysed inseparably from the quality of life, as one of the constituent and most important parts of this field. First, the quality of life is determined by economic, political, legal, social and psychological factors, i.e. it is directly or indirectly influenced by economic (macroeconomic and microeconomic), social, demographic and family, health and environmental protection and education policies carried out by the state. The quality of life as a sphere of human activity, related to the fulfilment of material and spiritual needs, depends on the level of the development of national economy; simultaneously it influences the economic development providing a boost to economic growth. In this context, the most significant is the social - economic model chosen by the state, i.e. the path along which of the state is going; it is reflected in national economic policy on the macro and micro level, social policy, demographic and family, health protection, education, science and cultural policies.

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HEALTH POLICY QUALITY OF LIFE DEMOGRAPHIC AND FAMILY POLICY I. HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF POPULATION Health, Psychological welfare, Demographic status physical happiness development of status population Objective Index of quality of evaluation STATE life ECONOMIC II. MATERIAL WELFARE AND ECONOMIC SOCIAL POLICY: according MACRO- ENVIRONMENT ECONOMIC AND to Employment Income (level and MICRO- statistical differenciation) ECONOMIC data POLICY Consumption Home and living Index of INCOME POLICY environment quality of SOCIAL AND Subjective life LABOUR POLICY Equality Gender evaluation EDUCATION AND Accordin CULTURAL III. EDUCATION, CULTURE, SYSTEM OF MORAL- g to social POLICY opinion ETHICAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUES

POLITICAL Education, Security (physical, Social environment and SYSTEM science legal) social relations

SOCIAL AND STATE Culture and the status of moral, PROVISIONS AND spiritual and ethical values VALUES

Figure 1. Systematic concept of the quality of life

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According to the research of foreign authors and the attempts to define the essence and content of the quality of life, the authors of the research programme suggest a concept of the equality of life based on the systematic concept of the quality of life and emphasize the following assumptions.  Life quality is a concept which reflects the degree of the fulfilment of demographic and health as well as healthy environment, material, cultural and spiritual needs, this degree being measured by the macro level (countrywide) and the micro level (from the standpoint of an individual).  The authors emphasize that while analysing the quality of life of the population, it is imperative to take into account people’s need to fulfil their creative abilities, to express themselves and to realise their potential.  The perception of the quality of our life differs from the widespread consumer perception based on the model of a human being as a universal consumer. A human being is not only a consumer of goods and services but also a creator – not only a developer of those goods and services but also the creator of his life and personality.  The suggested concept emphasises the significance of non-economic factors for the development of human welfare and economic growth. The quality of life reflects not only material factors (the increase of material goodness is not an essential factor of the quality of life) but also the preservation of health and the quality of environment, psychological well-being, the feeling of satisfaction with life and happiness, the quality of education, strengthening of communal relations, development of social capital, civic awareness, nurture of culture, moral ethical and spiritual values.  In this context, first, an exceptional influence of societal and human culture, established moral ethical norms, i.e. the system of values, on the quality of life, is emphasized. Second, the indicators of psychological self-perception, satisfaction with life and feeling of happiness into the concept of the quality of life as very important and innovative factors of the quality of life are introduced.  The authors suggest a systematic concept of the quality of life, comprehensively defining, first, health- psychological and ecological, second, economic-material and, third, cultural and moral social status and development.

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The concept of the quality of life is extremely wide and comprehensive; therefore, it is rather difficult to define it by a system of indicators. The more intensive internationalisation and globalisation processes are, the more complex this concept becomes. Every individual can give their own meaningful shade to the quality of life; however, in science, the quality of life is a concept, expressed by concrete indicators, measured and related to social welfare in a particular country. While seeking to evaluate the state of the quality of life of the population, one of the tasks is to develop a system of indicators of the quality of life and the criteria of evaluation. The quality of life, as a sphere of human activity associated with the fulfilment of material and spiritual needs, depends on external factors – the level of national economy and its growth, simultaneously it influences the economic development providing a boost to economic growth. In addition, state policy – health security, family, demographic policy, economic policy, international environment, education, cultural policies as well as the provisions and values of the society itself - have an influence on separate spheres of the quality of life. The levers of the quality of life are primarily economic resources (GNP part intended for consumption) also consumption, availability of consumer goods (goods and services) according to separate groups of the population (social groups, women, and men, etc.), it is also the protection of people’s health, psychological status and the protection of environment, education and established moral ethical norms. They are essential indices of the quality of life. Pursuant to the systematic concept of the quality of life presented by the authors, a possibility to evaluate and measure the quality of life emerges while developing a system of indices of the quality of life. The total number of the indices of the quality of life consists of three main groups. The first group of the indices of the quality of life includes the indices of an individual’s physical and psychological health as well as demographic indices. It is the average life expectancy, birth and mortality rates, the indices of the reproduction of the population (child birth, their number), marital status or the extent of population emigration. There may be such additional indices as sickness and disability rate, the stability of the family institute, the number of marriages, etc. The second group of the indices of the quality of life covers the indices of the standard of living of the population or the material status. One of the foundational constituent parts of material welfare is work and employment. The resources of consumption as the result of

10 production are goods and services intended for consumption; they are a source of the welfare of life which constitutes part of GNP intended for consumption (70-90 percent of GNP). The real level and structure of consumption depends on how much goods and services are available to different social groups and strata, which depends on the salary and the level of income, on the differentiation (distribution) of income as well as on savings, real estate, housing and living environment, etc. An innovative accent of the programme is the link between economy and psychology which is reflected by the research of satisfaction with life and happiness depending on the income level of the population. Here the programme will investigate the links of psychological well- being not only with the characteristics and psychological capital of the respondents but will also analyse emotional well-being of the population, satisfaction with life, happiness and its relation to the level of income. The third aspect indicating the quality of life is a system of indices of education, culture and moral-ethical values. It is a relatively new aspect of research in the context of the quality of life. Culture is one of the main concepts not only of society (sociology) but also of economy. Public culture covers two aspects: non-material ones, such as beliefs, ideas and values which constitute the content of culture, and material ones, i.e. objects or technologies which embody this content of culture (Giddens, 2004). The foundation of all cultures is ideas, defining what is important, valuable or desirable for society. It is these ideas that are the values which give the meaning and direction to the people: “what direction to live" or “what is the meaning of life ". In the world, culture is perceived as an economic concept. First, there is no morality without culture. And bad morality also leads to a "bad", inefficient economy. First, a highly educated and cultured professional, disposes of qualitative “non-tangible“ resources – knowledge, competence, intellect, professionalism, high spiritual and moral values which in knowledge economy are valued more than material resources; second, such an individual creates a high-quality product (e.g. innovations), insures higher productivity and makes a greater contribution to GNP and a higher quality of life. There are several hypotheses in response to the question of why one country is lagging behind, and the other is advanced, and whether the backward country may be a leader. What does not

11 allow for a country to break into leading positions is associated not with economic growth or the efficiency of economic policy but with values and norms of behaviour: what people consider being evil or good, what is acceptable or not acceptable. In the world, there have been attempts to explain why a country seeking progress and welfare sinks into mediocrity. Modern theory of economy has presented several hypotheses. First, it was contended that the foundation of everything is economic growth: it is sufficient to achieve rapid economic growth and everything will be perfect in future. Some countries definitely managed to achieve rapid economic growth; however, they again sank into mediocrity. Hence, according to scientists, this hypothesis was not confirmed. In accordance with another hypothesis, efficient politics is economic, social and foreign policies. It is contended that it is necessary to change a political system, to democratise a country and eventually progress will be made. Unfortunately, the experience of southern Asian countries, which made progress but are not democratic, shows that this hypothesis was not confirmed either. The third hypothesis - the most persuasive one (at present it is being tested by scientific methods) - is culture. Culture which can change with the education system can eventually divert economy in the right direction and remove the obstacles on the road to progress. American scientists Douglas North, John Wullis and Barry Weingast contend that the transition from a backward world to leaders occurs rarely as a fifty year period is necessary. Other scientists (A. Auzan) claim that with proper attention to culture progressive stimuli may be felt merely after 10-15 years. Thus, the main levers of progress are interpretation of cultural values and the implementation of a long-term attitude. A critical breakthrough moment is the realisation that it is long work and it is not worth believing in those people who promise a leap within a short period of time. Economic growth can be achieved, however, a question arises – what will happen after that? One of the most obvious barriers to economic and social progress is the devaluation of culture; another one is lack of preparation for long periods of change; and the third one is a complete lack of understanding of these two issues. It is complicated to express the aspect of the quality of life by quantitative indices; however, it is partially possible to do it on the basis of material aspect of culture. The authors of this programme emphasise that while analysing the quality of life of the population it is vital not to ignore such a significant aspect as gender equality.

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In the European Union countries, great attention has recently been paid to gender equality. It is recognised as one of the most efficient methods for increasing the quality of life of the population. On the one hand, the analysis from the point of view of gender equality helps distribute state expenditure more efficiently and to achieve better macro-economy results; on the other hand, it allows to better satisfy the needs of particular society groups and to enhance the quality of life. The integration of the aspect of gender equality and the instruments of the implementation of gender equality are new methods, innovative social technologies, widely used in the world and the European Union for the enhancement of the quality of life. They are commonly used in Lithuania as well. Gender equality is a HORIZONtal priority permeating all the spheres of economic, social and political life and (in the authors’ presented concept) health and demographic processes influencing the level of the quality of life of the population. Pursuant to the research of the aspect of gender over the last decades, the system of culture, moral, ethical and spiritual values is closely connected with gender stereotypes existing in society. Nowadays, the attitude to gender problems is becoming an indicator of welfare, culture and civilisation of an individual and the whole country. Regarding the presented systematic perception of the quality of life according to selected indices of different spheres of the quality of life, the opportunity to calculate objective and subjective indices of the quality of life appears based on corresponding statistical data and the results of subjective sociological research. The concept of the quality of life of the population and systematic understanding (i.e. the possibility to measure this complex phenomenon and to reasonably analyse it) allow forming an efficient future programme which would be aimed at overcoming negative trends and positively transforming the content and contours of the quality of the population of the country. 4. Having become a member state of the EU in 2004, Lithuania adopted and ratified the most significant strategic EU documents (the Lisbon Strategy, New Strategy for Social Cohesion, the Lithuanian Strategy for the use of the EU Structural Assistance for 2007-2013 and the EU strategy “Europe 2020”); however, in real economic life Lithuania lacks a clear position of the direction in economy. There are attempts to simultaneously go in two opposite directions. While declaring the pursuit of the European welfare model in its strategic documents, as a matter of fact Lithuania

13 is implementing the American monetary model which diverts Lithuania from the common objectives of the EU. Lithuanian economic policy is not orientated towards the social factor which lacked sufficient attention throughout the whole period of market reforms. The priority was given to the tasks of macro-economy – to balance state finances and to curb inflation. Contrary to modern trends of the theory of current economy, Lithuanian economic research is more diverted to the assurance of rapid economic growth and macro-economic stability, the development of the financial sector, banking and business as well as profit making whereas neither earlier nor especially nowadays sufficient attention is paid to social economic development, the research of the welfare and quality or of the population and the emergence of a market economy. The welfare of the population has never been the priority object of research in Lithuania. It should be noted that in different world and EU countries various paradigms of welfare have been created and implemented, and different economic models have been applied, these model being directed at positive changes of economic and social life and based on individualistic and holistic paradigms reflected in monetary-liberal and European welfare models. Seeking to implement the European welfare model, Lithuania has to develop competitive economy insuring the welfare of society. The competitiveness of the country is determined not only by the efforts of economic sectors, business companies and the state to make profit but also by the ability to ensure the quality of life for all the social groups of the population. Social and economic cohesion is an important priority of the development of the EU economic development aimed at reducing social and economic disparities among social groups, EU regions and member states. In Lithuanian current economic policy, in order to supplement the revenue of the state budget, the state cannot offer anything except the reduction of expenditure and the increase of taxes. However, as the real state of the country's economy shows, this path leads to an impasse. The problem of the deficit of the state budget reflects serious systematic problems of the Lithuanian economy - the destruction of the public sector (which simultaneously influences the collapse of the private sector), the inefficiency of economic policy, massive emigration form the country, huge unemployment or the collapse of the welfare of the population. Therefore, it cannot be resolved applying fragmented accountancy measures – the reduction of expenditure and the increase of taxes. While seeking to implement a new strategy of progress of the Lithuanian state and the

14 scenarios of its development, it is vital to rely not on abstract indices - the growth of GNP and normative macro-financial indices (Maastricht criteria) but to pay attention to the indices of the quality of life of the population which reflect the real economic status and shows the efficiency of economic policy. Having this in mind, it is appropriate, first, to analyse the system of indices of the quality of life, to be well aware of the situation and problems of this sphere and to forecast the future trends of development. The state should know what it is seeking, which objectives are more important – whether to decrease inflation and budget deficit at all costs which would undermine the economic foundation of state economy or to create conditions for the increase of the quality of life of the citizens so that they would not flee their country. Unfortunately, the concept of the quality of human life is not sufficiently reflected in strategic documents of Lithuania, it is not given any priority meaning. Secondary attention to the indices of the quality of life of the population is one of essential features of our economic policy. Over the last years there have been new attempts to decrease the expenditure of the state budget, to increase the tariffs of taxes, to introduce new taxes, to reduce corruption in order to decrease the budget deficit. However, this problem has not been resolved; it still exists and is becoming more serious. In order to achieve not only economic but also social justice, it is vital to analyse social- economic models of Lithuania and other countries from the point of view of efficiency in the common political-historical context, to forecast the trends of their development as well as to describe and compare them. It is imperative to carry out research in this direction due to the circumstance that in Lithuania the issues of the quality of life of the population are most frequently analysed merely from the point of view of the science of sociology and social policy, theoretically and practically separating them from economy, especially macro-economy. One of the tasks of the programme is to indicate that the parameters of the quality of life of the population have a great influence on the national economy, macroeconomic indices or state budget revenues, and disregarding them unbalances national economy, fails to solve the problems of the state budget deficit and may even lead to a collapse of the economy. 5. The state of modern welfare is associated with the need for social and economic security. In the 2014 UNDP human development report “Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerability and Building Resilience” it is accentuated that in order to decrease social-economic

15 inequality and social exclusion it is important to admit the concept of vulnerability and resilience (vitality, endurance) to the hardships of life. Real progress of the development of the people depends not only on their choice and ability to obtain education, to be healthy and achieve a certain standard of living and feel secure but also on the fact whether these results are ensured and stable, and whether sufficient conditions for sustainable development of the people have been created. Progress of the development the people is incomplete without the analysis and evaluation of vulnerability. The concept of human vulnerability and resilience has been introduced in order to define the decrease of human potential and the possibilities of choice. The question arises why some people are more resilient to the hardships of life and achieve more than others. The main accent there is on a person’s resilience, his ability to overcome the hardships of life which ensures reliable possibilities of choice, stability at present and in future, allows to cope with the challenges and to adapt to them. At different periods of their life people encounter various levels of insecurity and different forms of vulnerability. Children, teenagers and elderly people are vulnerable from the very beginning; thus, the question arises about which investments and measures can reduce vulnerability during sensitive transitional periods of life. Vulnerable social groups:  women  the disabled  children  youth  the elderly Other various social groups can also be vulnerable – the poor, people working in an informal sector, experiencing social exclusion and those who are on the boundary of getting into the group of the vulnerable. One of the most vulnerable social groups is women. Disregarding the progress made over the last years, according to numerous researches, women’s potential is not implemented. Limited use of women’s potential and fewer possibilities of choice prevent them from coping with the hardships of life. During certain cycles of their life, their potential can be limited due to insufficient

16 investments and timely attention; thus, the risk of vulnerability, which tends to increase and accumulate, emerges. Women’s insecurity, as a structural problem of vulnerability, increases and expands in the long run, which furthermore increases gender inequality regarding work and employment, social status, income and the quality of life. It is not easy for women to overcome these obstacles. A thesis has been proclaimed stating that in order to reduce stable forms of inequality, most of which are of a structural kind, others are associated with life cycle, it is imperative to continuously increase the potential of the life of individuals and society and to try to encourage the development of a vital human being. A discussion on the concept of vitality, endurance and resilience is being held. However, it emphasizes human resilience to the hardships of life that ensures stability of choice of possibilities and credibility at present and in future and enables them to cope with negative phenomena or to adapt to them. The potential of human life is being formed throughout life; therefore, it is imperative to educate and support it, otherwise it may stagnate. Numerous forms of people’s vulnerability are consequences of their life; moreover, past results pose risk and threat to become vulnerable and find the ways to overcome them. While creating the potential of human life, two circumstances are especially significant: first, the potential of life is influenced by investments during all stages of life cycles. The earlier they are, the better the perspectives of an individual. On the contrary, if they are untimely and short-term, there is a greater possibility that people would not be able to realise themselves and their human potential. In this context, investment in children education play a decisive role. Second, often short-term shocks are characterized by long-term effects. Human recovery and coming back to the previous state after a seemingly temporary shock does not always happen automatically; complete rehabilitation depends on different circumstances and, regarding the costs, is not necessarily efficient. Resilience is the ability to remove the obstacles preventing a person's freedom to act and participate in one’s own life and fate. Training of resilience is the training of the possibilities of choice, strengthening psychological properties and enhancing competences (knowledge and professionalism).

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The main thesis states that every human must have the possibility to live life which seems valuable and meaningful to him. Four key principals of the concept of the reduction of vulnerability and the enhancement of resilience have been laid down:  The principle of universality – individuals have the same value and the right to protection and support.  Human - first of all. Macro-economy must be orientated towards an individual; human is not a tool, not an objective.  Collective actions to overcome the challenges of vulnerability. The public sector plays a very important role.  Co-ordination between the parties and institutions. The government and other institutions. The following key threats have been emphasised in the concept:  Poverty  Inequality  Environmental degradation  Ineffective state governance Strong policy of social security increases not only an individual’s resilience to the hardships of life but also encourages economic growth and vitality of the country. Complete employment must become a political goal of society at any stage and level of development. According to Josepf Stiglitz, the research of the World Bank showed that two problems are vital to people: insecurity and vulnerability. Basic perception of vulnerability is the threat of the decline of the standard of living that is of particular concern, especially if the standard of living can fall to the point of deprivation. Economists' traditional unilateral pursuit of GDP growth has led to the fact that they do not pay any attention to the problem of vulnerability. One of the factors that makes the largest contribution to the increase of vulnerability is social economic inequality, especially when the poor cannot overcome the hardships of life. Inequality has to be viewed not as a moral problem but as an economic challenge, closely connected, first, with economic growth and, second, with the increase of vulnerability.

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6. Recent international research shows that the pursuit of economic growth and macro- economic stability are hampered by socio-economic inequality. So far, according to Lithuania's economic policy, the increase of social inequality was believed to be inevitable until economic growth and the level reached are low. However, theoretical and practical world research shows that such provisions are wrong. The research of the countries of the world presented in the report of the World Bank Justice and Development (World Bank, 206) proves that excessive inequality hinders economic growth. The increase of inequality controlled by the progressive tax system and other ways of the distribution of income considerably enhances the income of only the rich and decreases the income of the rest of the population making the majority of the population poorer. Due to this reason, economy becomes less efficient and loses opportunities for innovation and investment. According to Kenneth Rogoff, professor of Economy and Public Policy at Harvard University, former economist of the International Monetary Fund, “One thing is clear: inequality is not just a problem for the future. Concerns about the impact of income inequalities are already limiting the measures of fiscal and monetary policy both in developed and developing countries as they try to get out of the financial crisis. It is highly likely that the country's ability to reduce social tensions caused by inequality can be the factor that will determine who will win and who will lose the next stage of globalization. Inequality is a significant unpredictable factor and will have an impact on global economic growth over the next decade”(Rogoff, 2000). “Social justice is the foundation of society. If it is vulnerable, a huge human building, which is created and supported by nature itself, collapses rapidly and turns into dust. And it is a blow for personal gain, because it is linked to the welfare of society!” This was said not by anyone else but by firmly believing in the market's “invisible hand” Adam Smith (Adam Smith, 1997). World research shows that the distribution of the product, while ignoring social justice, impedes not only economic growth and reduces the budget revenue but also negatively affects the quality of life of the population: demographic processes, health, material status of the population, and decreases the availability of education. A well-known French economist Jacques Attali writes in his book World Economy Crisis. And After?: "Liberal ideology serves a small (countless) minority, especially considering that in 2008, as in previous years, many billions of dollars were “laundered” into banks. It was at the time

19 when ideology had to reflect the interests of all people, including the poorest ones, and future generations. A small group of people who do not create any national property, without any control from the outside, captures the largest part of the world's values. After these people have taken everything, they also make tax payers pay for their unheard-of profits, bonuses, also forcing the state to recover huge sums for repayment of the state debt and hole-patching” (Attali, 2009). Similar issues are raised by R. Reich, who contends that the reasons of a global crisis are not the growth of government debts and not the way of life of the population on the income but huge social injustice when GDP growth is based on an unjustified rise in the wealth of the wealthy people (Reich, 2010). Nobel Prize laureate Joseph Stiglitz in his report Rewriting Rules for Roosevelt Institute states that inequality is not inevitable; it is not a social nut economic problem. According to libertarians, inequality is not a price for economic growth but is the cause of the slowdown in economic growth. Inequality hinders economic growth and simultaneously negatively affects the welfare of people's lives. The greater the inequality, the slower the economic growth, states Stiglitz. Inequality, according to Stiglitz, is a systemic problem and characteristics of the economic system. Two main conclusions made by Stiglitz in his report are as follows: first, inequality is the result of an ongoing economic policy which is conducive to the wealthy; second, the roots of this problem cannot be counted into any single fragmented factor, e.g. profit tax, health reforms or labour market reforms, they consist of a set of all factors, their system. Moreover, the struggle with inequality demands a systematic approach and solution in numerous spheres: financial reform, corporation management, tax policy, antitrust policy, money, education, health policy and legal regulation of labour relations. The increasing polarization of society being characterised by the absence or insignificance of the middle class, is a particular cause of the economic downturn in Lithuania. The phenomenon requires attention from the state as it encourages social tension in society and cataclysms: social threats, emigration, and it may disrupt the development of the whole economy. World experience shows that the 10-fold difference in income inequality (decile factor = 10) poses threat to the stability of the country's macro-economy. Currently, this limit is exceeded in Lithuania. Excessive income differentiation in Lithuania (when the decile income

20 differentiation coefficient = 12-14) is one of the most acute problems in the country without the solution of which it is not possible to implement any long-term strategy and medium-term programmes. Lithuania should implement the economic model of European welfare taking into account the best world practice but at the same time the history of Lithuania and the nation's mentality, natural, social and economic conditions. It would stabilize economy and enable to return to the rapid and long-term trajectory of economic growth. 7. The analysis of the changes in life quality in the context of postmodernism suggests that it is particularly important that life quality primarily reflects the subjective perception of welfare. It includes physical, psychological, social and spiritual levels; therefore, not only the evaluation of each person's welfare according to certain criteria, but also the subjective opinion of the person is important for the assessment. A better life quality also means a more integrated society in which the risk of poverty and social exclusion will be reduced and there will be more trust in the authorities and their decisions. The aspect of public integrity is very important as a better quality of life is a subjective concept, and objective criteria such as GDP per capita or unemployment rate cannot fully disclose it. After Lithuania’s accession into the European Union the studies of the European life quality are conducted the results of which show that the level of welfare of the people of Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Hungary is extremely low (Anderson et al., 2009). The research findings, however, are more of sociological nature. Subjective welfare is examined in the context of socio- demographic phenomena while the results obtained do not provide the information about subjective factors of psychological well-being. In recent years, research in mental health and psychological well-being has increased in the Western countries. Subjective welfare and the factors associated with it are explored in foreign countries (mainly in the USA) attesting to establish the relationship of subjective welfare with other variables (socio-demographic, personal characteristics). Lithuanian researchers have examined the subjective welfare of individual representatives of different professions (Grigaliūnienė et al., 2007), subjective quality of life as a social indicator (Merkys et al. 2008), the phenomenological approach of the experience of unemployment (Norvilė and Vaštakaitė, 2009), the subjective welfare of women (Žukauskienė and Šakalytė, 2003; Žukauskienė, Navaitienė, Kanapinskaitė, 2005), the subjective welfare of middle-age males (Žukauskienė and

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Šilinskas, 2004); a comparison of the factors of subjective welfare of middle-aged women in Lithuania and Sweden was performed (Daukantaitė, Žukauskienė, 2006), etc. However, it should be noted that the research carried out in this direction is not sufficient and the studies are fragmented. 8. EU Program for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 stipulates that research should serve the development of an inclusive, innovative and safe society. The research of the factors of psychological well-being would enable Lithuania, as a developing country to expand the tasks carried out in Europe, increase Lithuania's international research attractiveness and create conditions for the implementing initiatives of scientific and public interest. In Lithuania, the factors of psychological well-being began to be studied more than a couple of years ago (Bagdonas, 2013). The factors of psychological well-being in adolescence, youth and old age have not been adequately investigated. There has been no explanation about the impact of different programs of health and education, culture and other fields on the psychological well-being of the Lithuanian people, as well as about the implementation of various programs aimed at reducing social exclusion and increasing employment for which the funds from the budget of Lithuania and the European Union are allocated. An increase of the happiness index of the population can be a reliable indicator of the efficiency and economic effectiveness of social innovation. Unfortunately, while Lithuania has been using the European Union's financial support for ten years, the psychological well-being (happiness) index of the Lithuanian population remains one of the lowest in Europe. This may mean that in terms of the psychological well-being of the population, the Lithuanian budget and European Union funds have not been used effectively. Hence, it is important to investigate which strategies and programmes really affect the psychological well-being of the people of Lithuania and what actions can be discarded. It is also important to analyse the problems which impede the sustainable development of society and can reduce the psychological well-being of the population, such as unemployment, social inequality, manifestations of aggression in workplaces and educational institutions, failure to assess the needs of vulnerable groups (such as the problems of early diagnosis of victims of violence, problems of the early detection of vulnerability of victims and witnesses, issues of ensuring the psychological well-being of adults and children related to population migration), etc.

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Moreover, the National Education Strategy for 2013-2022 indicates that in the global ratings we do have established Lithuanian institutions, which, when preparing specialists, would fully meet public expectations. One of the most pressing expectations of a modern society is “sustainable development that meets the needs of present generations, while preserving the opportunities for future generations to meet their own needs” (Our Common Future; Brundtland Commission, 1987). As indicated by various scientific studies (e.g. Banuri, 2009, Stelzer, Kashian, 2014; Liu et al., 2009) and the instruments of the European Commission and the United Nations, in order to protect the living and physical environment, including natural resources, processes and equilibrium, it is necessary to restrict global warming (significantly reduce fuel carbon emissions), stop biodiversity loss, control and limit the release of persistent chemical pollutants, return to natural nutrient cycles. Organizations controlling these processes are recognized as socially responsible (Montiel, 2008; Montiel, 2014), while the return on investment (ROI) in social responsibility in some segments reaches 400 per cent. (Ernst & Young Report, 2013). Unfortunately, there is not enough research into the relationship between sustainability and psychological well-being, either. In addition, the social dimension of sustainability means that the goal of sustainable development is a good enough life for all people in the present and future generations. Only the compassionate people can ensure sustainable development in society as “compassion is the basis of democracy, peace in the world, the absence of violence and the prosperity of society” (Davis, 2006; Conti, 2005); without establishing it, not only sustainable development, but also the implementation of the mission of science are impeded. The lack of compassion involves selective negative attention to intellectual, economic, cultural, social, psychological and other differences; in the world, this is considered to be a scientific, social and behavioural problem; special programmes have begun to be designed to overcome it (Brantley, 2007). The environment without compassion cannot meet the principles of social and economic cohesion and sustainable development or achieve the goals set in the strategic documents of Lithuania and the EU. While analysing the factors of psychological well-being, a model for the formation of sustainable behaviour, compassionate communication and sustainable welfare will be developed. In addition, while analysing the priority areas for psychological well-being, Ed Diener (2011), a researcher of psychological well-being, contends that the analysis of the factors of

23 psychological well-being and the development of the measures ensuring psychological well-being are among the most important tasks of the research in contemporary psychology. Researchers in the US and Europe are actively solving issues of ensuring psychological well-being (for example, ensuring children’s psychological well-being in their parents’ divorce cases, ensuring the psychological well-being of victims with disabilities or minorities in criminal proceedings, etc.). According to Diener (2013), it is necessary to pool the international efforts of researchers of various psychology fields and to answer the question of what causes can influence and what measures can reliably ensure psychological well-being: 1) psychological well-being at work, 2) psychological well-being related to health, 3) psychological well-being of various groups (age, gender, etc.). Although the measures of ensuring psychological well-being have been explored for a decade. For example, Davidson (2003) researched the efficiency of positive affective intervention, Burton and King (2004) - the effects of the experience of positive interventions, Sharma (2008) - effectiveness of lifestyle interventions, Papousek (2008) - mood-enhancing interventions; Gilek (2010) - interventions of gratitude, Chan (2013) - the impact of directing negative events on positive interventions, Luthans (2007) - the impact of interventions of psychological capital on the psychological well-being of employees), many questions about the effectiveness of the measures and their application have not been answered. In addition, the links between psychological well-being with not only social demographic characteristics, income, health, work factors, but also with the totality of psychological characteristics that determine subjective evaluation of well-being, as well as in situational (e.g. traumatic) circumstances, have recently been sought. 9. In the programme, the ratio of education and quality of life is examined in various aspects. One of the most relevant aspects is related to the impact of education on the welfare of an individual and the community. Today, education is regarded as a very significant foundation for development and catalyst for progress. Sustainable investment in human capital is considered a prerequisite for a sustainable economy. In the current labour market of knowledge society, the fastest growing demand is for specialists with analytical and creative thinking, entrepreneurship and skills of innovative activity. Education also has certain tasks while overcoming the challenges caused by social demographic processes. For instance, in an aging society, education must enable older people to remain in the labour market for a longer period of time. Both in the global (e.g. the

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European Commission, 2010) and the national development strategies (for example, the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, 2012) it is emphasized that not only economic growth but also social inclusion and cohesion depend on the access to education, the quality of competencies and knowledge acquired by citizens. An individual’s education and lifelong learning are an essential prerequisite for the quality of life. Only by constantly acquiring knowledge and improving his creative abilities can a person be able to survive successfully, change the environment and create personal and common good. Education enhances people's creativity and entrepreneurship, promotes technological competence and labour productivity. People who are more educated and prone to constant learning tend to have a greater autonomy and social responsibility, are better informed, manage to adapt more successfully to changes, are more resilient in difficult situations, live longer, have a full life, their career ensures a higher level of social prestige, income and life satisfaction. Not accidentally the indicators of welfare are high in the countries where stable investment in education brings a harmonious connection between society, the state and the market, and creates a modern and accessible learning environment for the people. Research is a reliable demonstration of the positive impact of lifelong learning on happiness and welfare; it also gives comprehensive view and understanding of the complex mechanism of interaction between education and the quality of life. Summarizing international research data, R. Sabates and C. Hammond (2008) have drawn the following conclusions: Acquired higher professional qualifications have a positive effect on human happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem and self-efficacy and reduce the risk of depression. The positive effect of learning on self-esteem and self-efficacy is particularly pronounced when learning corresponds to the needs of learners and when learners are prone to learning outcomes and are prepared to take advantage of this stage of life. The positive effect of education is manifested through various intermediate processes, which have such factors as higher income, favourite work, household composition and healthy lifestyle, the use of health services, emotional resistance, social skills and better health at an older age. However, in some cases education can have a negative impact on personal happiness. For example, highly qualified workers may be less satisfied with their job and less resistant to depression than colleagues with a moderate-level qualification. Education

25 promotes higher personality aspirations and expectations that are not always satisfactory in the work environment, which increases the risk of stress. Lithuania's Progress Strategy Lithuania 2030 (approved by the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, 2012) values human imagination, creativity and critical thinking as significant national resources. The ideal of a wealth-producing country is associated with a nurturing creativity in the education space in which a grown up and living person is capable of creating and being part of “smart society”. The strategy notes that “one of the key factors influencing the development of society is a well-developed and successful system of lifelong learning”. High- level scientific research and innovations are essential to “smart economy” and “smart society”. It is a sphere of progress the main actors of which are highly qualified specialists. How much and how Lithuania, in comparison with other EU countries, is successful in struggling to break away from quite low positions in the quality of life according to many criteria is an equally important question for researchers, politicians and the public. It is necessary to rely on statistical data while considering this issue and looking for successful solutions. Statistics are important, but its institutional nature and the abundance of indicators often complicate the process of public policy. As for the whole Europe, it is vital for Lithuania to have more convenient tools for political analysis - integral indices of the quality of life, including a component of education, covering not only objective but also subjective dimensions. 10. The program analyses the quality of life at work (QLW) which can be defined as the quality of the relationship of employees with their work environment. Today, QLW is associated with a more general concept of the quality of life (QL), i.e. QLW is viewed as an integral part of QL. A person spends a large part of his life at work, and the money earned is not the greatest benefit - work helps us satisfy communication needs, shapes the social and professional identity of personality, provides opportunities for self-expression, recognition and overall sense of work satisfaction which is an important element of happy life. Work gives meaning to life, and unemployment is seen as the main source of misery and depression (Frey & Stutzer, 2000). Unfortunately, QLW does not merely depend on human wishes and efforts. Various circumstances, such as lack of education or qualifications, financial difficulties, poor health, etc., can make us have an unpleasant job. Low organizational culture, poor management

26 and a stressful microclimate can lead to constant stress and frustration, which will accompany a person only at work. On the other hand, it is easy to notice that the progress of organizations in today's fast-moving world is directly related to the quality of human resources. Success is determined not by successful technologies but by successful employees who are able to use or design new technologies. In recent years, there has appeared more scientific evidence that the results of the organization are heavily dependent on the happiness of people working there (Happiness Works, 2012). Experimental research has established (Oswald, 2013) that happier people are more likely to be innovative, successfully reveal their creative potential and higher productivity. They tend to constantly improve their qualifications, do not spare energy and time at work, outside the organization they behave like its “ambassadors” spreading positive knowledge and strengthening a good image. Happier employees help create and maintain an optimistic mood and effective work climate (Fisher, 2010). Compared to unhappy workers, they are less likely to be absent from work, have less harmful habits and have better health (IOD, 2006). This synergistic relationship between productivity and happiness is considered as an important precondition for the motivation of employees. It is acknowledged that investing life quality at work can bring significant benefits to both employees and the entire organization. Not accidentally more and more institutions implement employee motivating measures which encourage not only individual efforts of people but also teamwork relations and commitment to the mission, which is in line with the ideals of society, its role in the organization and the perception of responsibility, the need to raise qualifications and realize itself as a personality. Consideration of the quality of life at work in scientific and public debates raises awareness that sustainable progress is determined by the economic relationship with the happiness of citizens, therefore, the main objective of politics is not to create financial capital but the main treasure of the country - an equal, healthy and viable society in which people enjoy their activities both at work and beyond (Monkevičius, 2014). 11. One of the objectives of research of this programme is an unprecedented decline of culture, moral and ethical values, which is one of the most important causes of the economic downturn in Lithuania. Total propaganda of material and financial aspect in the official

27 economic doctrine of the 20-21st centuries encouraged not only socio-economic inequality but also conspicuous trends in the decline of culture, moral, ethical and spiritual values. It became evident that the models of large private capital absolute and radical attempts to discard market regulation contradict the concepts of social justice, equality, democracy and destroy traditional ethics and morals, turn an individual into a slave for money, level up personality and personal freedom. The diffusion and dispersion of accepted moral norms take place in the public consciousness - the boundary between good and evil disappears. Individual pragmatism, cynicism and orientation towards personal benefit are increasingly spreading. Among young people, a cult of cruelty and violence is being formed; aggression is seen as a value that dulls the feelings of compassion and humanity. Psychologists, sociologists and representatives of the church state that negative moral-ethical principles are becoming stronger in all the layers of society. It affects the behaviour in society and in the family. In Lithuania, the main cause of depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, criminal behaviour and suicide is spiritual emptiness, loss of meaning of life, obscure moral and ethical values. It is the price for consumer ideology, the cult of material success, the lack of spirituality and loss of ideals. When answering the question of why one country is lagging behind and the other is advanced, and whether backward country can be a leader, Professor A. Auzan contends that in modern economic theory there is a “path-driven effect” or “path-dependent” effect: a country falls into the well-trodden ruts, trying to escape from them, but is always slipping back to them. From the scientist’s point of view, what constrains the country in the well-trodden ruts is not related to economic growth or the efficiency of economic policy but to values and behavioural norms: what people consider to be bad and good, acceptable and unacceptable. For example, whether it is good to pay taxes, whether it is possible to report on a neighbour, a colleague, or whether it lawful to steal from the state treasury, whether social privileges can be claimed when one is not entitled to them. Thus, according to Auzan, it is a matter of culture, but of such culture which can change due to education and long-term work with people. It can be pushed to the right side and the blocker on the development path can be removed but it takes a considerably long time - 10 to 15 years. There have been attempts in the world to explain why the country was in the ordinary tracks. Several hypotheses have been presented in contemporary economic theory. First, it was stated that economic growth is the grounds for everything: it is necessary to achieve rapid

28 economic growth and everything will succeed in itself. It is known that some countries achieve economic growth faster than other countries (for example, Lithuania also saw GDP growth rate of 10.3 per cent in 2003, but failed to break away from previous tracks. This is also illustrated by examples from numerous other countries. Thus, according to the scientists, this hypothesis has not been confirmed. The second hypothesis is an efficient political regime: it is necessary to change the political system, democratize the country when people demand positive changes, and they will take place. Unfortunately, this hypothesis is completely unreliable. For example, in Singapore, the political regime is opposite to the democratic one, and the country succeeded in getting into the leaders. There are quantitative studies, including the consequences of the revolutions, which show that if the revolution takes place in a country with inefficient institutions where people do not always obey the law, then the country's economic situation does not improve (Egypt, Ukraine). The third hypothesis - the most likely, which is currently being tested - is concerned with culture. However, only with the culture that can change due to education and working with the population for a long time. Culture can positively affect the economy within 10-15 years and remove the brakes on the road ahead (for example, as has happened in southern Germany). Thus, the main lever - a valuable interpretation - is the implementation of work, property, freedom and long-term approach. The crucial moment of breakthrough is the perception that this is a long way and a long-term job, and those who promise a jump in a short period of time, should not be believed. Economic growth can be achieved; however, the question is what will follow after? The essential principal is that all the countries that succeeded in transitioning from the backward to the leading ones (namely, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, also partially Poland, Ireland, and southern regions of Germany) have some common features. First, in all those countries, it was crucial to realize their potential (based on human resources and their characteristics) rather than surviving, making both ends meet; second, individualism - a person has the right to act on his own; third, a long-term strategic approach. It is a very important principle as you need to look at the years ahead and not for four years. Lithuania does not have any strategic attitude; moreover, it is limited by government regulation. For instance, it seemed that in 2003-2004 and 2007, Lithuania broke out of well-trodden ruts but then it pulled back again. This is the "path-dependent" effect”. It means there is some kind

29 of blockage and brakes that prevent the country from moving forward. One of these obvious barriers is the lack of preparation for long periods of change, the lack of a strategic approach; another barrier is the devaluation of culture and education by giving this place for commercial and money-seeking purposes; and third, the complete misunderstanding of these levers. The country is tangibly aiming at success, better material condition, it has escaped the former difficult condition; however, it does not succeed in arriving at a new state and establishing oneself in a stable position. Understanding these levers should become the turning point. American researchers Douglass C. North (Nobel laureate in economics), a historian Don Youll and a political scientist Barry R. Weingast state in their book Violence and Social Orders that transition from underdeveloped world to the leaders’ world happens rarely and requires 50 years (in number, it does not mean an undisrupted period). Other researchers (A. Auzan) maintain that, if culture is taken into consideration, progressive advancements may already be felt in 10-15 years. Thus, the major levers of progress are cultural value-based orientation and implementation of a long-term attitude. The determining moment of change is the understanding that this is a long way to go, this is a long-lasting work, and we should not believe those who claim that a considerable jump is possible in a short-term. Economic growth can be reached; however, there is a question What next? One of the most obvious hindrances to economic and social progress is depreciation of culture, another – unpreparedness for long periods of change, and the third – a complete failure to understand the former two things. The existing economic situation of Lithuania’s population raises big concerns. The reasons are not merely the economic problems faced by the EU and a threatening international situation. Though these things, undoubtedly, have an impact on the country’s economy and society, the problems lurk inside the country. According to Stieglitz, the difficulties faced by the post-Soviet economies and a permanent crisis are determined by two major factors – lack of a strategic attitude and unprofessional decisions. In fact, the difficulties arise because there is no true professional elite in Lithuania which is necessary for any country’s development and progress. Emigration is a societal challenge and only elite ersatz, pseudo-elite remains in the country. Thus, we have to refer to it not as elite but dominant groups. In the country, there are always people and groups who believe that they

30 understand which direction should be taken and who succeed in leading people that way. Does this mean that the chosen road is right? No, it does not. It means that a society does not live without such groups and the economy does not exist. The quality of the elite is yet another question. The major problem is the crisis of the Lithuanian elite. Let’s see whether such people as professionals of the highest level are valued in Lithuania, whether they have realized their potential, whether our economists, sociologists, professional politician who have an in-depth understanding of the complex economic, social and political problems are required by the country’s economy, politics, whether they can have any influence? This is conditioned by a wide gap between governmental structure and professionals, by a belief that it is not possible to do anything. The real elite is leaving the country because it does not see where it can be useful, it does not see any prospects in its own country, it does not believe in the future of the country. A creative potential grows where there is a universal understanding, where there are no barriers built, where there is a possibility of inner growth. The real elite are able of developing the country on the grounds of the resources that are available in the country and the elite understand that. These are not only material resources, not so much technologies and innovations. Rather, these are specificities of people’s life and behaviour, moral ethical norms, system of values. It is necessary to locate such resources, such mental features that can be taken as a basis. In the beginning, it is necessary to employ the existing things, not something that does not exist yet. But it will not bring excellent results just like that. However, in 10-15 years, it is necessary to nurture the features that are not present today. New, genetically undetermined features are acquired through socialization which is, first and foremost, conditioned by school, university, and the military. These are institutions that nurture sociocultural characteristics of a population, their behavioural attitudes, habits. The aim and the objectives of the research programme are formulated on the basis of the above-mentioned problematic issues and challenges related to quality.

II. THE AIM, THEMES, OBJECTIVES, MEASURES OF IMPLEMENTATION, EXPECTED QUALITATIVE RESULTS

The aim is to carry out complex research the economic, social, legal, public administrative, psychological and educational pre-conditions for the improvement of life quality of Lithuania’s

31 population and for the increase of its employment possibilities; determine causes and obstacles to effective improvement of life quality and promoting of employment; suggest effective ways of removing the obstacles and causes based on research findings and provide recommendations to public institutions that form life quality and employment policies, to policy makers and policy implementers. The objectives of the programme:  Theoretical and methodological research on different aspects of life quality – conceptions, diversity of measuring and assessment indicators;  Research on macroeconomic factors of life quality – relations between financial, fiscal policy and life quality indices, processes of social and economic cohesion of the EU;  Research on safe and healthy society – its health, healthy lifestyle, demographics and family, ageing, psychological well-being of population, migration factors;  Research factors impacting material well-being, economic factors impacting life quality – increasing employment, underground economy, business growth, creation of a socially-responsible labour market, accumulation of income and consumption, savings, housing and environment.  Research on non-economic factors of life quality – sustainable educational policy, work life, sustainable culture, the impact of the moral - ethical value system on economy, ecological life quality and other factors.

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1.1. Research on conception of life quality 1. Theoretical and 1.2. Methodology of life quality measurement and methodological research on assessment life quality 1.3. Model of Lithuania’s economic and social development in the context of globalization and Europeanization

2.1. Research on co-relations between life quality and

macroeconomic factors 2. Research on 2.2. Research on co-relations between financial system macroeconomic factors of life and life quality quality 2.3. Research on underground economy 2.4. Research on social and economic cohesion of the EU with regard to different aspects of life quality

3.1. Research on health, healthy lifestyle 3. Research on safe and 3.2. Research on family and ageing healthy society (on changes in 3.3. Research on psychological well-being of health and demographic population

changes) 3.4. Research on migration factors

4.1. Research on increasing possibilities of employment 4.2. Research on entrepreneurship education

4.3. Research on creation of a socially-responsible 4. Research on material labour market well-being of population 4.4. Research on socio-economic inequality (income, assets differentiation research) 4.5. Research on the level and structure of

POSSIBILITIES population’s consumption 4.6. Research on savings and investments 4.7. Research on housing and environment 4.8. Research on life quality based on gender

5.1. Research on sustainable educational policy and life- long learning 5. Innovative research on 5.2. Research on work life life quality factors 5.3. Research on social, economic and legal security 5.4. Research on psychological well-being, dependence of happiness on income level 5.5. Research on sustainable well-being of life 5.6. Research on sustainable culture, moral-ethical values 5.7. Research on co-relations between culture and economics

IMPROVING LIFE QUALITY AND ENHANCING EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT ENHANCING AND QUALITY LIFE IMPROVING 5.8. Research on participating approach in the context of life quality 5.9. Research on social investments and innovations33

RESEARCH TOPIC 1: THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON LIFE QUALITY

1.1. Objective

Research on the concept of life quality Measures of implementation 1.1.1. definition of criteria 1.1.2. creation of a system of indicators 1.1.3. creation of an assessment model 1.1.4. calculation of objective and subjective indicators to assess life quality Expected qualitative results  Populations’ conception of life quality  Criteria of research on life quality defined  A system of life quality indicators created  A model of assessing life quality created  Objective and subjective indicators of life quality calculated 1.2. Objective Methodology of measuring and assessing life quality

Measures of implementation

1.2.1. definition of various concepts of life quality 1.2.2. analysis of different aspects of well-being of life 1.2.3. analysis of researchers’ attitude towards conception of life quality Expected qualitative results  Various concepts of life quality defined  Different aspects of life quality analysed  Analysis of researchers attitude towards conception of life quality presented 1.3. Objective

A model of Lithuanian economic and social development in the context of globalisation and Europeanisation Measures of implementation

1.3.1. various synthetic life quality indices analysed and compared on an international level 1.3.2. defining Lithuania’s place in the world context 1.3.3. calculation of indices of various fields and an index of general life quality Expected qualitative results  Synthetic indicators of life quality analysed and compared on an international level  Lithuania’s place in the international context determined and substantiated from the perspective of life quality  Indicators of various fields and a general index of life quality calculated

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The first thematic field is focused on formulation of theoretical and methodological basis of populations’ life quality. A conception of populations’ life quality– various concepts pertinent to life quality and different aspects of life well-being will be analysed, research-based attitude towards conception of life quality provided, various indicators of life quality analysed and compared on an international level in order to show Lithuania’s place in the global context. This theme will be also focused on the methodology of assessment of life quality – defining criteria, creation of a system of indicators, a model of assessment, calculation of objective and subjective life quality assessment indicators. A systemic approach to life quality and conceptual attitudes of researchers will be employed to develop research methodology. Following the proposed conception of life quality, a system of indicators will be created. With regard to the programme aim and objectives, methods of objective and subjective research will be proposed. In the creation of a model of life quality assessment, these methods will be tested by carrying out an empirical research and calculating indicators of various fields as well as a general index of life quality. Models of economic and social well-being will be researched following the methodology of a state’s well-being developed by Western researchers. However, in Lithuania, it is not expedient to follow directly the theoretical and methodological paradigms developed and applied by Western states in the field of economic and social well-being because they can be applied only partly in the states of specific development of new democracies that have lived only a short period of independence. These paradigms have to be adopted and tested and theoretical premises can be formulated later on the basis of empirical research that would reflect specific experience of Eastern Europe and Baltic states. Bearing this in mind, research methods applied in other countries will be used but the programme will also offer new research methods, statistical and comparative analysis renewed, comparative data from Eastern European countries will be used more extensively. Substantial research has already been done both in Lithuania and Europe and in the world in the field of research into employment and improvement of life quality (it is substantiated by the fact that three researchers have achieved Nobel prizes for suggestions regarding decrease in unemployment). Despite of that, Lithuania as a young EU state with a specific social, economic,

35 legal and cultural situation has to search for scientifically-substantiated particular ways (corresponding to its historical conditions, national mentality, stages of development) of improving life quality, increasing employment, tackling unemployment, reducing emigration, and brain drain, and achieving prosperity of the state. In the analysis of problems of employment and life quality, it is necessary to take into account quantitative and qualitative research methods for the analysis of social economic development: participatory research, collation research, open coordination, etc. In research methodology, not only empirical, inductive, positivist, but also abstract, deductive methods of phenomenological nature have to be seen as important, which would generate new theories and interpretations. The interpretative and normative aspect is especially important in making clear value aspects pertinent to solidarity, social justice, social inclusion and motivation of social and economic administration that would directly and indirectly impact the state’s economy.

RESEARCH TOPIC 2: RESEARCH ON MACROECONOMIC FACTORS OF LIFE QUALITY

2.1. Objective

Research on co-relations between life quality and macroeconomic factors Measures of implementation 2.1.1. research on life quality and macroeconomic factors 2.1.2. research on social and economic cohesion of the EU in the context of life quality Expected qualitative results  Identification of life quality and microeconomic factors  Analysis of and insights from research into social and economic cohesion of the EU in the context of life quality 2.2. Objective Research on co-relations between financial system and life quality Measures of implementation 2.2.1. research on fiscal (tax) policy co-relations 2.1.2. research on co-relations between financial system and life quality Expected qualitative results  findings of research on fiscal (tax) policy co-relations  findings of research on co-relations between financial system and life quality 2.3. Objective Research on shadow economy Measures of implementation 2.3.1. research on indicators of shadow economy 2.3.2. measurements of extent and tendencies of shadow economy

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Expected qualitative results  definition of indicators of shadow economy  a measurement model of extent and tendencies of shadow economy 2.4. Objective Research on social and economic cohesion of the EU from the perspective of various aspects of life quality Measures of implementation 2.4.1. Research on circumstances of life quality of the EU and Lithuania 2.4.2. Research on impact of social and economic cohesion of the EU Expected qualitative results  Findings of research on circumstances of life quality of the EU and Lithuania  Findings of research on impact of social and economic cohesion of the EU

The second thematic field is focused on research on macroeconomic factors of life quality including co-relations between life quality and macroeconomic factors and fiscal (tax) policy, research on co-relations between financial system and life quality as well as research on social and economic cohesion of the EU with regard to life quality. The research reflects circumstances of life quality of the EU and Lithuanian population – the priority of Lithuania’s macroeconomic indicators in economic policy and ineffective results of such approach. Problems related to interaction of public and private sector and effective management will be analysed as well as formation of entrepreneurship policy and its implementation in Lithuania. An important factor in analysing life quality is state’s financial policy, a chosen model of fiscal policy and tax system oriented towards strict Maastricht criteria or growth of economy and rise in life quality – these aspects are reflected in the programme.

RESEARCH TOPIC 3: RESEARCH ON SAFE AND HEALTHY SOCIETY (HEALTH AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES)

3.1.Objective

Research on health and healthy lifestyle Measures of implementation 3.1.1. Identification of indicators of health and healthy lifestyle 3.1.2. Assessment of indicators of health and healthy lifestyle Expected qualitative results  Indicators of health and healthy lifestyle identified  Indicators of health and healthy lifestyle assessed 3.2. Objective

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Research on family and ageing Measures of implementation 3.1.1. Formulation of a system of family and ageing indicators 3.1.2. Research on the context of family and ageing in Lithuania and the EU 3.1.3. Research on the tendencies of family and ageing Expected qualitative results  A system of family and ageing indices formulated  Findings of research on family and ageing context in Lithuania and the EU  Findings of research on family and ageing tendencies 3.3. Objective Research on psychological well-being of population Measures of implementation 3.3.1.Research on psychological well-being of various societal groups 3.3.2. Research on psychological well-being at the workplace Expected qualitative results  Findings of research on psychological well-being of various societal groups  Findings of research on psychological well-being at the workplace 3.4. Objective Research on migration factors Measures of implementation 3.4.1. Economic, social, psychological research on public and private sector 3.4.2. Research on entrepreneurship Expected qualitative results  Findings of economic, social, psychological research on public and private sector  Findings of research on entrepreneurship

The third thematic field is research on safe, healthy society and demographic changes and will include research on demographic changes, family, ageing, migration, psychological well- being of the population. Rapidly increasing emigration level in Lithuania (largest among the EU states) will be also researched. According to the last census of Lithuania’s population of 2011, the country’s population is 3.05 million inhabitants, i.e. the number of inhabitants decreased during market years by more than 500 thousand. The data from Statistics Department of Lithuania also suggests that in 1990–2008, more than 500 thousand people left the country. In 2010 only, the migration scale rose 4 times – 80 thousand inhabitants emigrated (in comparison to earlier annual data, which is 15-20 thousand). They are mostly young, well educated, enterprising, and full of initiative people as well as qualified specialists and highly professional individuals. It is common to think that emigration is affected by economic factors –low salaries; however, economic motives are to some extent overestimated. Smart young and educated individuals often leave Lithuania because they do not see any prospects here – they cannot realise 38 their professional and human potential, express their capacities and establish themselves as personalities. Therefore, in order to encourage their return, a sound complex strategy of reducing emigration has to be prepared; first and foremost, it has to be related with the implementation of the model of European well-being in Lithuania, increase in life quality that encompasses multiple spheres. It is a problem of choice of the entire economic system, economic policy of the state and state strategy.

RESEARCH TOPIC 4: RESEARCH ON MATERIAL WELL-BEING OF POPULATION

4.1. Objective Research on increasing employment possibilities Measures of implementation 4.1.1. Research on participation of young people, the elderly, and low qualification workers in labour market. 4.1.2. Research on strengthening integration of legal migrants in labour market. Expected qualitative results  Findings of research on participation of young people, the elderly, and low qualification workers in labour market.  Findings of research on strengthening integration of legal migrants in labour market 4.2. Objective Research into entrepreneurship education Measures of implementation 4.2.1. Defining a system of entrepreneurship indicators 4.2.2. Research into factors conditioning entrepreneurship Expected qualitative results  A system of entrepreneurship indicators defined  Factors conditioning entrepreneurship determined and analysed 4.3. Objective Research on creation of a socially-responsible labour market Measures of implementation 4.3.1. Research on employment of social groups 4.3.2. Research on the context of employment of social groups Expected qualitative results  Findings of research into employment of social groups  Findings of research into the context of employment of social groups 4.4. Objective Research on socio-economic inequality (income, assets differentiation) Measures of implementation 4.4.1. Research on cause-consequence of income, assets differentiation 4.4.2. Research on conditioning environment of income, assets differentiation Expected qualitative results

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 Findings of research on cause-consequence of income, assets differentiation  Findings of research on conditioning environment of income, assets differentiation 4.5. Objective Research on population’s consumption level and structure Measures of implementation 4.5.1. Research on environment of population’s consumption level and structure 4.5.2. Research on tendencies of population’s consumption level and structure Expected qualitative results  Findings of research into environment of population’s consumption level and structure  Findings of research into tendencies of population’s consumption level and structure 4.6. Objective Research on population’s savings and investments Measures of implementation 4.6.1.Factors conditioning savings and investments 4.6.2.The national context conditioning savings and investments Expected qualitative results  Findings of research on factors conditioning savings and investments  Description of the national context conditioning savings and investments 4.7. Objective Research on housing and the lived environment Measures of implementation 4.7.1.Research on the context of housing and the lived environment in Lithuania 4.7.2.Research on the tendencies and the conditioning factors of housing and the lived environment Expected qualitative results  Findings of research on the context of housing and the lived environment in Lithuania  Findings of research on the tendencies and the conditioning factors of housing and the lived environment 4.8. Objective Research on life quality based on gender Measures of implementation 4.8.1. Analysis of status quo of life quality based on gender 4.8.2. Analysis of tendencies and factors conditioning life quality based on gender Expected qualitative results 4.8.1.Findings of analysis of status quo of life quality based on gender 4.8.2.Findings of analysis of tendencies and factors conditioning life quality based on gender

The fourth thematic field – research on population’s material well-being will include employment possibilities, shadow economy, business development and entrepreneurship education, creation of a socially-responsible labour market, socio economic inequality (income, assets differentiation), population’s consumption level and structure, of savings and investments,

40 research on housing and the lived environment as well as research into life quality on gender basis and according to social and age groups. The relevance of the problems related to increasing employment possibilities and reducing unemployment is highlighted in the EU strategy Europe 2020 which seeks to increase the employment level of population aged 20-64 up to 75 per cent by paying particular attention to ensuring a more active participation of young people, older people and low qualification workers in labour market as well as strengthening integration of legal migrants in labour market. The EU states seek to use research on employment and labour market in order to adjust relations between market and society (by reducing social exclusion, increasing employment possibilities and being satisfied with one’s employment contract, creating family-favourable work relations) as well as relations between labour market and particular sectors (by contributing to efficiency of professional training, changes in qualifications and forecasts, social dialogue, personnel and career management, professional orientation). Research on employment and labour market in Lithuania has become more active since 2000: in May 2001, a programme of increasing employment in the Republic of Lithuania in 2001– 2004 was prepared and confirmed; it foresaw the necessity of a closer cooperation with research institutions and social partners. Research on labour market expanded after having used the resources of the EU structural funds in 2004-2005 and much important work was done but it remained episodic and segmented (Gruževskis and Gražulis, 2008; Gruževskis and Blažienė, 2008; Daujotis, Kvedaras, Gruževskis et al., 2008; Bagdžiūnienė, Gruževskis, Junevičius et al., 2008; Gruževskis, Junevičius, Moskvina et al., 2008; Beresnevičiūtė, Gruževskis, Leončikas et al., 2008). However, in Lithuania, applied research on employment and labour market is dominant, theoretical and international research is lacking, comparability of available information is scarce; recently, the research on labour market is of applied nature; statistical research methods are rarely employed, multi-disciplinarity and cooperation between researchers from various fields is lacking and their research methodology is insufficiently referred to. The aim set in Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth” is to reach 75 per cent employment among people aged 20–64 by 2020.2 In order to reach this goal in

2 Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. COM, 2010. 41 the EU, it is necessary to create additional 17.6 million work places. Unfortunately, in the aftermath of the crisis, in 2011, the employment level fell to 68.9 per cent 3 , and, in 2012, unemployment exceeded 10.0 per cent. Though the number of work places rose by 1.5 million by the middle of 2011, it has not been sufficient to compensate for the 6 million of work places lost since 2008 in the EU. Because of the slower growth of the EU economy after the crisis, negative prospects and growing differences between member states and regions, it is even more difficult to achieve such goals as growth of employment, enhancement of social cohesion and combating poverty. One of the most fundamental aims of Europe2020 is total employment and social cohesion. The prospects of increasing employment, on the one hand, depend on the EU’s ability to increase the growth and effectiveness of economy by implementing a stimulating macroeconomic policy (decreasing inflation, interest rate, deficit of state budget), and, on the other hand, it is necessary to implement a corresponding microeconomic structural policy (promoting investments, innovations, industry, business) that would create favourable conditions to increase employment – to increase the number of work places and create new work places, facilitate transition from one work place to another, provide work force offer that corresponds to the increasing demand of labour market. Employment policy not only should help economic revival in the short term but also ensure necessary social investments in the future – in the long term – that would create conditions for increasing budget revenue (and not forcefully and continually decreasing budget expenditure). The employment statistics regarding Lithuania’s population indicate that the set aims are especially important for our country as well. According to the data from research into labour force continuously conducted by Statistics Lithuania, the general employment of population in the first six months of 2010 fell to 57 per cent, and the unemployment reached a record level of 17.8 per cent. Though it decreased in 2011-2012 by 2.1 percentage points, it still remains high and exceeds the EU average (in 2012, unemployment in Lithuania reached 13.3 per cent, in the EU 10.5 per cent). Employment of some social groups is especially low: for instance, employment of older working people (aged 55-64) was approximately 48 per cent, all rural population also

3 EU Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review – March 2012. 42 approximately 48 per cent, and employment of inhabitants with low-level education was about five times lower than that of population with higher education. Employment of population with lower-level education was only 18 per cent in 2009; meanwhile, employment of inhabitants with higher-level education was 62 percent and that of inhabitants with higher education – 86 per cent. Other negative tendencies are also evident in Lithuania’s labour market:  in recent years, the tendency of decreasing employment of working-age people is increasing in Lithuania, it does not raise any doubt according to official statistical data. The level of unemployment has reached a threatening level that is substantially higher in the group of young people (15-24 years) than the average of the country.  there still are rather big regional differences in population’s employment, unemployment, income level, labour market and accessibility of social services, while territorial (in-country) mobility of labour market in Lithuania traditionally remains small.  long-term unemployment has been one of the major problems related to unemployment in Lithuania (referring to people remaining unemployed for one year and longer). The economic deprivation caused by this phenomenon during the period of economic difficulty is especially complicated and bears negative consequences not merely on the mental health and psychological well-being of an unemployed individual but also on the everyday well-being of people surrounding him or her (Gallie et al., 2001).  though the level of unemployment is high in the country and level of education of the population is relatively high, shortage of qualified staff is becoming one of the main hindrances to the development of Lithuania’s economy. Qualification of labour force often does not match market needs, the phenomenon of structural unemployment and low professional mobility are evident. In the programme, much attention is paid to analysis of problems related to social economic inequality. The focus is on the role of social security, social inequality, poverty, social exclusion, de-commodification, social development, citizen participation and non-governmental organizations in regard of marginalised and other social risk groups. Alongside research into marginalised groups, research into the “middle class”, which forms the basis of societal stability, as well as gender research and research pertinent to the elderly people are also developed.

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The importance of social security programme comes to the fore in this context. This programme is aimed at compensating income in labour market for persons facing social risk and members of marginalised groups. In order to achieve social justice, not merely economic, it is necessary to research models of Lithuania’s social policy and social administration (social security) in the general political-historical context, to foresee their developmental perspectives, to describe and to compare them. As a consequence of globalization and neoliberalism, the attention paid to population’s social security lessened in 1980-2010; social security came to be seen as “burden to economy”, “encouraging dependants”, “stigmatizing”, etc. It is to some extent true but referring merely to the “passive social policy” based on benefits that was dominant in the 20th century. The 21st century social policy is oriented towards “active social policy” that sees social benefits only as a helping means and seeks in all possible ways “enablement” of its citizens mostly through new governance, active acting of communities and non-governmental organizations and social networking means. Active social policy is forming an essentially different discourse of economic and social policy and is becoming a determinant paradigm in sociology, political sciences, public administration, economy and other social sciences.

RESEARCH TOPIC 5: INNOVATIVE RESEARCH INTO FACTORS OF LIFE QUALITY

5.1. Objective Research on sustainable educational policy and life-long learning Measures of implementation 5.1.1. Status quo research on sustainable educational policy and life-long learning 5.1.2. Research on tendencies and conditioning factors in sustainable educational policy and life-long learning Expected qualitative results  Findings of status quo research on sustainable educational policy and life-long learning  Recommendations regarding sustainable educational policy and life-long learning 5.2. Objective Research into working life Measures of implementation 5.2.1. Research on working life in various economic sectors 5.2.2. Research on working life according to social groups and age categories Expected qualitative results

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 Findings of the research on working life in various economic sectors and suggested solutions  Findings of the research on working life according to social groups and age categories and suggested solutions 5.3. Objective Research on social, economic and legal security Measures of implementation 5.3.1. Status quo research into social, economic and legal security 5.3.2. Research on tendencies and alternatives in social, economic and legal security Expected qualitative results  Findings of the status quo research on social, economic and legal security  Findings of the research on tendencies and alternatives in social, economic and legal security 5.4. Objective Research on psychological well-being and dependence of happiness on income level Measures of implementation 5.4.1. Status quo research on psychological well-being and dependence of happiness on income level 5.4.2 Research on tendencies and conditioning factors of psychological well-being and dependence of happiness on income level Expected qualitative results  Findings of the status quo research on psychological well-being and dependence of happiness on income level  Findings of research on tendencies and conditioning factors of psychological well- being and dependence of happiness on income level 5.5. Objective Research into sustainable well-being of life Measures of implementation 5.5.1. Status quo research and research on alternatives in sustainable well-being of life 5.5.2. Research on conditioning factors of sustainable well-being of life Expected qualitative results  Findings of status quo research and research on alternatives in sustainable well-being of life  Findings of research on conditioning factors of sustainable well-being of life 5.6. Objective Research on sustainable culture and moral-ethical values Measures of implementation 5.6.1. Educational research on sustainable culture and moral-ethical values 5.6.2. Research into tendencies and conditioning factors of sustainable culture and moral- ethical values Expected qualitative results  Educational findings of research on sustainable culture and moral-ethical values  Findings of research on tendencies and conditioning factors of sustainable culture and moral-ethical values

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5.7. Objective Research on co-relations between culture and economics Measures of implementation 5.7.1. Status quo research on co-relations between culture and economics 5.7.2. Educational research on co-relations between culture and economics Expected qualitative results  Findings of status quo research on co-relations between culture and economics and recommendations  Educational findings of research on co-relations between culture and economics and recommendations 5.8. Objective Research on participating approach in the context of life quality Measures of implementation 5.8.1. Research on participating approach of various societal groups 5.8.2. Status quo research on participating approach 5.8.3. Research on tendencies in participating approach Expected qualitative results Findings of the research on participating approach of various societal groups and recommendations Findings of the status quo research on participating approach and recommendations Findings of research on tendencies in participating approach and recommendations 5.9. Objective Research on social investments and innovations Measures of implementation 5.9.1. Research on conditioning factors in social investments and innovations 5.9.2. Research on tendencies in social investments and innovations Expected qualitative results  Findings of the research on conditioning factors in social investments and innovations and recommendations  Findings of the research on tendencies in social investments and innovations and recommendations

The fifth thematic scope – innovative research on non-economic factors of life quality – overarches the programme. The main research areas: sustainable educational policy and life- long learning, work life and happiness at work, sustainable culture, moral-ethical values, social economic and legal security, psychological well-being, dependence of happiness on income level, sustainable (ecological) well-being of life, co-relations between culture and economics, participatory decision-making, social investments and innovations. The world experience suggests that to create a basis for increase in population’s life quality, it is necessary to develop a learning society, promote research, new technologies and innovations. In a society where shopping centres have replaced fundamental research, commercial 46 objectives have substituted professional development and improvement of professional level in the educational system, this aim is hardly achievable. In order to solve this challenge, investments in research are necessary. It is necessary to prepare researchers, professionals, highly-qualified specialists who would, first and foremost, be able to work professionally. Theoretical research schools, directions that would provide a young people with options of choosing an educational institution and studies, “a life direction”, i.e. clear models of professional career need to be supported. Moreover, in this context, advisers on Lithuania’s economic policy should come not so much from big businesses or oligarchies (who often lobby for their own interests) but rather they should be independent experts-researchers. Increasing effectiveness of the educational system and implementation of the conception of the learning society in the context of growing economy is an important factor (Guidelines for education: Strategic principles of educational development, 2002; Strategy for ensuring life-long learning, 2004). The life-long learning necessity for adults and the need to assess and acknowledge such learning arose almost four decades ago in North American continent (the USA, Canada) and in Australia, while in many European countries they became particularly relevant in the last decades of the 20th century. Following the emergence of postmodern societies in which knowledge became the major source of future advantages, and human intellectual resources started to be seen as the new “grey capital” that equals that of land, work and capital and that has to be used and renewed throughout the entire life (Field, 2002). In France, Great Britain, Ireland have accumulated most experience in this field, and, in the last 15-20 years, many other European countries have introduced systems (across all educational levels) of identification of learning that occurred in diverse learning environments, its assessment and acknowledgement, have created assessment methodologies and have defined the most effective methods of assessment. Meanwhile, research in this field in Lithuania is fragmeted, there is a lack of coherence with research on social problems such us unemployment and decreasing life quality. The requirement of adaptation and flexibility in regard of labour market that the system of education has to take into consideration is a composite part of the conception of forming a learning society. In Lithuania, it is necessary to carry out research on development of professional (special) and transversal competences by providing individuals who are joining the labour market not only with knowledge

47 but also with competences necessary for the world of work that will determine an adult’s successful employment and activities in an organization:  the existing research is still not systemic, not directed toward realization based on research findings in real life in improving population’s quality of life;  research on professional terminology is especially relevant in the era of globalization, when preservation of national identity is sought for under the conditions of interference of languages and cultures and when integration into the context of global social phenomena. Improvement of transversal linguistic competences and skills and studies of cultural phenomena would improve not only special competences of various types and levels but also the quality of life and contribute to increase employment possibilities. One of the transversal competences that is necessary in the contemporary world of work is the competence of self-projection; research on its development and use is making only the first steps in Lithuanian universities. Having carried out research envisioned in this programme and having provided the self-projection competence in university, the graduates will acquire a competitive advantage in employment and will be able to project work-related activities on his or her own by taking into consideration the specific nature of work and the level and nature of responsibility. The role of life-long learning in increasing employment possibilities and promoting their development as well as the need to assess and acknowledge such learning emerged almost four decades ago in North American and in Australia. During the last 15-20 years, many other European countries have introduced systems (across all educational levels) of identification of learning that occurred in diverse learning environments, its assessment and acknowledgement, created assessment methodologies and defined the most effective methods of assessment. Much important research findings has already been published in these countries with regard to assessment and acknowledgement of learning in the spheres of professional training and higher education. One of the most urgent problems regarding Lithuania’s economic and social development that has not been sufficiently researched is determining the need for labour market – the need of specialists in different sectors of the Lithuanian economy and activities. On the one hand, in the context of information society and knowledge economy, the need for educated, highly- qualified professionals and qualified specialists is rising; on the other hand, however, such people

48 who are trying to leave Lithuania because they cannot realize their potential here, find possibilities for self-expression. Moreover, all this is happening under the conditions of rising unemployment. Thus, one of the most acute problems pertaining employment arises – how many and what specialists does the Lithuanian economy need that would be on demand today and necessary in the future? The framework programme for research and innovation Horizon 2020 envisions the serving of smart research for the creation of inclusive, innovative and safe society. Research on factors ensuring psychological well-being would provide Lithuania as a developing region with an opportunity would increase Lithuania’s psychological well-being state, scientific attractiveness, would create conditions for implementing initiatives appropriate from the scientific and public perspective in Lithuania. Psychological well-being in Lithuania were started to be researched in a more comprehensive way only a few years ago (Bagdonas, 2013). However, factors of ensuring psychological well-being in teenage years and adolescence, young adult and elderly life have not been researched sufficiently. It has not been determined what impact on psychological well-being of Lithuania’s population is done by modernization of various processes (health, education, culture and other spheres), implementation of various programmes of decreasing social exclusion and increasing employment for which funding is allotted from the Lithuanian and EU budgets. The raising index of population’s happiness can be a reliable indicator of effectiveness of social innovations and economic usefulness. Unfortunately, though Lithuania has been using the financial support of the EU for ten years already, the psychological well-being (happiness) index of Lithuania’s population continues to be one of the lowest in Europe. This implies that from the perspective of population’s psychological well-being, the funds of the Lithuanian budget and the EU haven not been used effectively. Thus, it is important to research what strategies and programmes indeed impact the psychological well-being of the Lithuanian population and what actions can be discarded. In addition, it is important to analyse the problems impeding sustainable societal development and possibly lessening population’s psychological well-being. They include unemployment, social inequality, violence at the workplace and educational institutions, failure to assess the needs of vulnerable groups (for instance, problems related to early diagnostics of individuals who have experienced abuse, problems related to early identification of vulnerability

49 of victims and witnesses, problems relate to ensuring the psychological well-being of adults and children stemming from migration of population), etc. One of the strategic guidelines of improving life quality and increasing employment that is given much attention as regards Lithuania is creation of ecological economy, ecological agriculture and green workplaces. Insufficient workplaces are being created in Lithuanian regions, especially rural areas. In economically underdeveloped regions, many rural inhabitants work in traditional sectors of the country’s economy: agriculture, forestry, and fishery. Slow and sporadic development of non-traditional (alternative) spheres of ecological economic activities in rural areas does not encourage creating new workplaces. Because of differences in regional business development and creation of workplaces, the rate of unemployment of inhabitants of the working age in rural areas is 1.8 times higher than in cities. Transition to ecological economy would revive Lithuanian agriculture, food industry and would allow for taking up the place in the EU in the sphere of production of food products that are becoming more expensive in the world. In fact, it is necessary to revive the Lithuanian countryside where employment is very low. Transition to ecological economy, green villages, creation of green communities would be one of the key directions in increasing the employment of Lithuania’s rural inhabitants – the elderly, women, young people, long-term unemployed persons and low-qualified workers. What is more, Lithuania’s past history in agriculture, human mentality, love for nature and land is a very good potential for effective ecological activities. The development of economy and green workplaces is of priority directions in improving quality of life and increasing employment in Lithuania. As experience of foreign countries shows, employment in eco-activities has shown positive dynamics during the process of world crisis. Following the crisis, in energy economy of renewable resources, 1.12 million workplaces have been created in the EU. Besides, their potential in 2020 is assessed as adding 5 million more workplaces in energy economy of renewable resources. In the branch of ecological construction, France is an example of good experience in fighting crisis and creating green workplaces. In France, the number of workplaces in transition to higher standards of energy saving rose from 90 thousand in 2006 to 180 thousand in 2012. In Germany, high level of employment was reached in housing renovation. The programme of

50 housing renovation in Germany ensures 300 thousand workplaces annually. In Hungary, annual renovation of 5.7 per cent flats, according to forecasts, will allow creating up to 184 thousand new workplaces in 2015. The potential for increasing employment is also high in other branches – in saving natural biological diversity, waste recycling, agriculture and forestry. As organic food products require more labour input and their cost in the European market is higher, the economic effect of this production and its impact on employment should be assessed very positively. The development of eco-branches and green workplaces should be one of priority objectives of structural policy in Lithuania. In transition to ecological (green) economy and creation of green workplaces, it is purposeful to take into consideration the ILO4 recommendations for Central and Eastern European countries, especially the Baltic countries. The recommendations state that it is necessary to create such diversification of economy where there is a transition from traditional agriculture production to high-quality food industry and other industry branches that create higher added value and more productive workplaces. The key principle followed by the programme researchers states that life quality of population is the most important and major indicator of the effectiveness of the state’s policy. Therefore, it is expedient to answer the questions of how well-being and quality of life of Lithuania’s population has changed in the period of market economy, what achievements and major problems are evident in this sphere, what possible solutions are available and what perspectives are seen in the future.

III. EXPECTED QUANTITATIVE RESULTS Academic Academic Academic Academic Indices year year year year 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 R&D articles in journals included in Clarivate Analytics and Scopus 20 25 35 40 databases referred publication list.* R&D articles in periodical reviewed research journals included in other 20 25 35 internationally recognized 40 databases*.

4 Employment, Growth and Social Justice. 9th European Regional Meeting in Oslo (Norway), April 2013. International Labour Organization. Report by Director-General. 51

R&D monographs and studies (not based on a dissertation) published by 3 5 7 internationally recognized research 9 publishing houses R&D monographs and studies (not based on a dissertation) published by 5 8 10 12 other research publishing houses Higher education textbooks 5 6 7 8 Membership in editorial boards of 5 3 4 research journals Organized international R&D events 8 8 8 8 Organized national R&D events 8 8 8 8 Contracted R&D services 5 8 10 12 Research-business cooperation 5 3 4 agreements Implemented international R&D 8 5 6 7 projects Implemented national R&D projects 7 10 15 20 Number of patents issued 1 2 Number of licences issued 1 1 Doctoral students of industrial 2 1 1 doctorate Post-doctoral researchers 1 1 2 3 Participation in working groups formed by state governance 5 institutions, state and municipal 3 4 institutions and organizations, economic entities Consultations provided to the 5 3 4 general public or economic entities Membership in international working groups, associations, expert 3 4 5 groups R&D promotion activities 5 5 5 5

* Not less than 50 percent of research production prepared in foreign languages (English is given priority).

Possibilities of using the expected results:

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1. The research carried out within the programme, collected information and research data will allow revealing pre-conditions for improving life quality and employment possibilities, effective governance models and methods. 2. Research on improvement of life quality in increasing effectiveness of public sector institutions will contribute to creation and development of effective models of governance of public and private sectors, improvement of life quality in developing and implementing e-governance models and measures. 3. Research on nteraction between public and private sectors and effectiveness of governance will created conditions for modernizing governance models of Lithuanian institutions, public service, and effective governance of inter-sector cooperation. Possibilities of balanced representation of interests in the state’s governance and models of effective participation in creation of public policy by employing tools of social network analysis will be analysed. 4. Research in the field on entrepreneurship will create pre-conditions for improving entrepreneurship policy, entrepreneurship education and development of population’s employment possibilities both in public and private sectors. 5. Research carried out within the programme will allow systemically analysing the insufficiently researched problem of life quality: revealing the essence and content of life quality, its complex composition, developmental tendencies, raising the major problems, envisioning their solutions, suggesting strategic directions for improving life quality in the future. A comprehensive research into the life quality of Lithuania’s population, analysis of the development of Lithuania’s population’s life quality in 1990-2015, comparisons between Lithuanian and international situations in this sphere will allow providing forecasts until 2030, preparing recommendations how the Lithuanian economy should be revived, what priorities the state should set in implementation of the State Progress Strategy until 2030. 6. The research results will be useful for improving employment policy, modernizing labour market, implementing the perspective of flex-security, increasing employment of various social groups and age groups and promoting their integration in labour market, and preparing recommendations regarding shortages of the legal regulation in Lithuania. 7. A comprehensive research on the change of family models from the inter-generational perspective (focused on trajectories of family models and social network analysis) will reveal the

53 diversity of family models in Lithuania and their change, most common family models will be defined with regard to different birth cohorts, influences among various family models and related social networks will be analysed. This will contribute to formulation of research-based recommendations regarding measures of the family policy in Lithuania. 8. Research on monitoring of demographic ageing will reveal the process of population’s ageing and its consequences as well as the socio-economic situation of elderly people and will created pre-conditions for assessing the results of the implementation of the national strategy for overcoming the consequences of population’s ageing. Research on subjective well-being will assess factors of an individual’s subjective well-being and successful ageing. 9. Comprehensive research on the social security and health care of Lithuanian and EU population will allow analysing models of inter-disciplinary cooperation in improving conditions of people experiencing social risk, assessing possibilities for modernizing social services for families. An analysis of legal regulation of the system of personal health care will be done and research into the field of health promotion problems, including mental health, will be carried out. 10. Research findings will contribute to modernization of models of social policy and social administration. The impact of globalization and Europeanization on national systems of welfare will be researched and defined. Analysis of Lithuania’s family policy and its interpretation from the international comparative perspective will be don. Active social policy research including analysis of dynamics of application of social policy factors as well as analysis of the relation between social policy factors with business development and employment indices will be implemented. 11. Comparative analysis of the economic situation, research on gender issues in Lithuania including study of gender-sensitive budget, study of international trade from the perspective of gender issues and research into increasing competitiveness of women’s businesses will reveal the economic situation of men and women in the country and will create pre-conditions for formulating perspectives regarding future changes in the field. 12. Research on improving life quality by developing and implementing models and measures of e-government and participation citizenship will allow determining the indicators of assessment and the specific measures that state institutions need in order to improve the situation. This will allow improving effectiveness of communication between citizens and public institutions, involve

54 citizens in government’s decision-making better, and orient the provided administrative services towards citizens more. 13. Research focused on creation of an innovative environment will analyse measures of governance of research and studies and the impact of development of research and technologies on competitiveness, will assess tendencies of change in higher education systems, and will create integral innovations-oriented models of research governance. 14. Findings of research on effectiveness of the system of education in Lithuania (quality, accessibility, and system management), social dialogue in the system of education and factors of the change in the system of education will contribute to optimizing of services of education and their quality. 15. Research on improvement of professional competence in the system of higher education will assess the role and importance of education in the context of improving life quality as regards the acquisition of transversal competences (especially competences of metacognitive self-projection) and professional competences (document administration, language for specific purposes in various fields). In this way, the research findings will contribute to improvement of the educational process in the system of higher education. 16. Through the implementation of this programme, qualified specialists of social research will be educated. Doctoral studies will become more attractive, more possibilities will emerge for researchers who acquired their education and research experience abroad and who return to Lithuania.

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IV. COOPERATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS

No. Name Universities 1. University of Aberdeen (Ireland) 2. Adam Mickiewicz University (Poland) 3. Ajou University (Korea) 4. Altenholz High School of Administration (Germany) 5. Arizona State University (JAV) 6. University of Aveiro (Portugal) 7. Baku State University (Azerbaijan) 8. Belarusian State University (Belarus) 9. Bialystok University of Technology (Poland) 10. University of Bergen (Norway) 11. Berlin School of Economics and Law (Germany) 12. University of Bern (Switzerland) 13. School of Economics and Management of Public Administration in Bratislava (Slovakia) 14. Free University of Brussels (Belgium) 15. Masaryk University in Brno (the Czech Republic) 16. Corvinus University of Budapest (Hungary) 17. Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague (the Czech Republic) 18. Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University (Ukraine) 19. Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University (Ukraine) 20. Educational Research Association (USA) 21. Eurasia International University (Armenia) 22. Ewha University (Korea) 23. Fatih University (Turkey) 24. Federal Academy of Public Administration (Germany) 25. Fernando Pessoa University (Portugal) 26. Gangneung-Wonju National University (Korea) 27. University of Ghana (Ghana) 28. Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno (Belarus) 29. University of Graz (Austria) 30. University of Ilorin (Nigeria) 31. Faculty of Law University of Indonesia (Indonesia) 32. Inholland University (the Netherlands) 33. ISM University of Management and Economics (Lithuania) 34. Johannes Kepler University Linz (Austria) 35. University of Cadiz (Spain) 36. Kaliningrad State University (Russia) 37. Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (Turkey) 38. Karol Adamiecki University of Economics in Katowice (Poland)

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39. Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania) 40. Kazakh National Pedagogical University (Kazakhstan) 41. University of Cologne (Germany) 42. Kenyatta University (Kenia) 43. Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Ukraine) 44. Kingston University (the United Kingdom) 45. University of Cyprus (Cyprus) 46. Christian Albrechts University Kiel (Germany) 47. Klaipėda University (Lithuania) 48. Copenhagen Business School (Denmark) 49. University of Cordoba (Spain) 50. Korea University (Korea) 51. KROK University (Ukraine) 52. Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University (Poland) 53. Kuban State University (Russia) 54. University of Lapland (Finland) 55. Police Academy of Latvia (Latvia) 56. LCC International University (Lithuania) 57. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (Lithuania) 58. Lithuanian University of Agriculture (Lithuania) 59. Linnaeus University (Sweden) 60. University of Lyon 1 (France) 61. University of Lyon 2 (France) 62. Technical University of Loja (Ecuador) 63. University of Lodz (Poland) 64. London Southampton University (the United Kingdom) 65. Taras Shevchenko National University of Luhansk (Ukraine) 66. Lund University (Sweden) 67. University of Science Malaysia (Malaysia) 68. Malmö University (Sweden) 69. M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia) 70. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Criminal Service (Germany) 71. Free International University of Moldova (Moldova) 72. Moldova State University (Moldova) 73. National Chengchi University (Taiwan) 74. Centre for Migration Law of the Radboud University Nijmegen (the Netherlands) 75. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (Germany) 76. Faculty of Law in Osijek (Croatia) 77. University of Oslo (Norway) 78. Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University (Russia) 79. South Illinois University (USA) 80. Rīga Stradiņš University (Latvia) 81. Transport and Telecommunication Institute in Riga (Latvia) 82. East Carolina University (USA) 57

83. Saxony Police College (Germany) 84. University of Salvador (Argentina) 85. Saint Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance (Russia) 86. Polytechnic Institute of Santarém (Portugal) 87. University of Zaragoza (Spain) 88. University of Savoy (France) 89. Siam University (Thailand) 90. Silesian University in Opava (the Czech Republic) 91. Södertörn University (Sweden) 92. Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski (Bulgaria) 93. Istanbul Bilgi University (Turkey) 94. Süleyman Demirel University (Turkey) 95. University of Šiauliai 96. T. C. Maltepe University (Turkey) 97. Tallinn University (Estonia) 98. International Institute for Democratic Transition (Hungary) 99. David Agmashenebeli University in Tbilisi (Georgia) 100. Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (Georgia) 101. Tbilisi University (Georgia) 102. Tbilisi State Institute Of Economic Relations (Georgia) 103. University of Texas (USA) 104. Alexander Dubček University of Trenčín (the Czech Republic) 105. University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (Slovakia) 106. Ukrainian Academy of Banking of the National Bank of Ukraine (Ukraine) 107. Uppsala University (Sweden) 108. West Kazakhstan Academy of Humanities (Kazachstan) 109. Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain) 110. Warsaw School of Economics (Poland) 111. Ryszard Lazarski University of Commerce and Law in Warsaw (Poland) 112. Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University (France) 113. Turība University (Latvia) 114. Institute of Business Management (Pakistan) 115. Vilnius Gediminas Technical University 116. Vilnius University (Lithuania) 117. VIT University (India) 118. Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania) 119. German Police University (Germany) 120. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (the Netherlands) 121. University of Wrocław (Poland) 122. WHL Graduate School of Business and Economics (Germany) 123. University of Zagreb (Croatia) International organizations and state institutions 124. European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)

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125. European Investment Bank 126. European Investment Fund 127. European Commission 128. European Science Foundation (ESF) 129. European Parliament 130. Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) 131. Kaunas City Municipality 132. Klaipėda City Municipality 133. Latvian Academy of Sciences 134. Court of Appeal of Lithuania 135. Supreme Court of Lithuania 136. Lithuanian Labour Exchange 137. Research Council of Lithuania 138. Lithuanian Academy of Sciences 139. Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania 140. Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania 141. Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania 142. Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania 143. Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania 144. President of the Republic of Lithuania 145. Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania 146. Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania 147. Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania 148. Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania 149. Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania 150. Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania 151. Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania 152. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania 153. Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania 154. Government of the Republic of Lithuania 155. Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania 156. Lithuanian Business Confederation 157. Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania 158. Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson 159. Panevėžys City Municipality 160. Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania 161. Šiauliai City Municipality 162. Institution of the Ombudsperson for Children's Rights 163. State Child Rights Protection Institutions 164. Vilnius City Municipality 165. Fire and Rescue Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania 166. State Consumer Rights Protection Authority Associations, business entities, non-governmental organisations, etc. 59

167. Achema 168. Office of Lawyer Irmantas Norkus and partners Raidla Leijins & Norcous 169. Law company Eversheds Saladžius 170. Professional Partnership of Lawyers Motieka ir Audzevičius 171. Law company ,Valiūnas Ellex 172. Profe ssional Partnership of Lawyers Markevičius, Gerasičkinas ir partneriai 173. Profe ssional Partnership of Lawyers Jurevičius, Balčiūnas ir Bartkus 174. Law Office „Balčiūnas, Grajauskas, Leadell 175. Profe ssional Partnership of Lawyers Triniti LT 176. Association Investors’ Forum 177. Institute of Responsible Business and Mentoring 178. Bitė 179. British Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania 180. British Council 181. British Embassy in Lithuania 182. Labour Market Research Institute 183. Delfi 184. Dujotekana 185. European Consumer Centre in Lithuania 186. European University Association (EUA) 187. Goethe Institute 188. CSR Network Lithuania 189. Infobalt 190. Information Technology and Communications Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania 191. Military Police 192. Kėdainiai Tourism and Business Information Centre 193. Lithuanian Association of Responsible Business 194. Institute of the Lithuanian Language 195. Lithuanian Bar Association 196. Chamber of Judicial Officers of Lithuania 197. Lithuanian Association of Economists 198. Lithuanian Institute of History 199. Language Teachers’ Association of Lithuania 200. Lithuanian Chamber of Notaries 201. Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists 202. Lithuanian Social Research Centre 203. Lithuanian Lawyers Association 204. Lithuanian Association of Property Valuers 205. Lithuanian Center for Human Rights 206. Association of Judges of the Republic of Lithuania 207. State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine 208. Centre for Social Support in Marijampolė 209. National Association of Financial Services Consumers 60

210. National Courts Administration 211. NordLB 212. Telia 213. International Association of Universities 214. Civic Responsibility Foundation 215. Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts 216. French Cultural Center 217. PricewaterhouseCoopers 218. Respublika 219. AB SEB bankas 220. Social Research Institute 221. Swedbank 222. Education Exchanges Support Foundation 223. Transparency International Lithuanian Chapter 224. State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour 225. State Consumer Rights Protection Authority 226. Veidas 227. Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos 228. Knowledge Economy Forum 229. National Association of Financial Services Consumers 230. Hum an Rights Monitoring Institute

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