Regional Formation and Development Studies

Quality of life characterizes the conditions of human existence, the level of satisfaction of needs. Children with disability restrict ability of the families to meet their needs. Parents of these children quite often are limited in their employment and education opportunities, and their resources, they meet with restrictions in all areas if life. Such a situation has developed not only because of the socio-economic situation in the country, but also due to the lack of interest and inadequate support. The aim of the paper is to analyse the family quality of life of the families with disabled children with in regions of Latvia. Empirical data were obtained by structured interviews with 272 families. The research shows that the situation of the families with disabled children differs in different regions of Latvia. Families are supported by the state and municipalities, bet the support in the areas of emotional, physical and social wellbeing does not recompense the influence of special needs of the disabled children on the family quality of life.

Professional activation is an important part of the economy, in particular local and regional authorities. Properly initiated entrepreneurship significantly affects, among other things, the direct development of the region, including local businesses and the investment opportunities of local government units. Improving competitiveness and the socio-economic image of the region can be seen by taking direct economic initiatives (also in cooperation with economic entities and/or scientific research units) and by implementation of innovation, the use of various forms of external financing, but primarily through new jobs and business activity. The aim of the study is an attempt to present the issue of professional activation of disabled people in the former Central Pomeranian province, in the county Słupsk. The study public opinion poll (own questionnaire study) was conducted at the turn of 2013–2014y. Survey was also conducted in Polish and English literature. In the years 2007–2015 local government organizations implemented 7 projects in the region of Słupsk and also activities are constantly supported by District Labour Office (PUP) activation, which provides services to 97 % of respondents.

The presence of imbalances and asymmetries of the rural development form the need of harmonious development directions of the village that led to the choice of a researched topic. The aim of this work is to find and study areas and mechanisms for the orderly development of rural areas based on the principles of formation food and economic security, organic farming, and waste-free life and bio-adequate approaches in growing up and education. The study covers the period from 1991 to 2014. Evaluation of the results was based on sociometric and statistical methods. Theoretical and methodological basis of research was grounded on system-synergetic approach to the study and modelling of socio-economic processes. It was formed a model of dynamic ecological social and economic settlement system capable of self-sufficiency. Specificity of the organization and functioning of the environmental settlements in terms of global challenges was identified.

This paper describes the difference between business social network sites and private social network sites under consideration of the employment seeking process. The objective of the paper is to explain the different use of social network sites for different purpose. The use of social network sites can be explained with social capital theory which has been tested with the collected data. This paper test if the social capital theory can be expanded to explain social network sites under consideration of the employment seeking process for Xing as business SNS and Facebook as private SNS. The purpose of this article: According the survey to analyze the difference of social network sites explained with the employment seeking process. The research methods: analysis of scientific literature, interpretation, quantitative research, data analysis using SPSS program. The research method has been an online survey with 271 young SNS members who are participants for the research project. The sample has a gender bias which has to be under consideration by the interpretation of the results.

Creation of strong brand and increment of brand’s equity in the market is main goal of business. Usage of brand equity concept allows brand owners to sell branded products at higher price, gain greater market share, better promote products in the market, penetrate in market more easily, acquire more loyal consumers, improve effectiveness of marketing communications and enlarge product lines more successfully. Therefore for last 20 years brand’s equity conception, that consists from financial and consumer perceived brand’s equity, has become increasingly actual. It is also important task for brands in Latvian cosmetics market, because market itself is strongly saturated, highly competitive, and brand communication is very active, and therefore this kind of market requires brands to create their own unique approach, so they could stand out and successfully compete with other brands.

The following article is devoted to determine what the main tendencies are concerning the Environmental Management Systems’ certification in the accordance with ISO 14001 and EMAS’ registrations in the years 1999–2013 from a different countries’ perspective. Giving examples of representative quantitative data, the author presents dynamics of the growth of environmental management systems and also absolute positional qualifications (describing numbers of certificates and registrations), as well as relative qualifications (presenting numbers of certificates and registrations per million residents) in various European countries. The quantitative analyses that have been conducted show a general increasing tendency regarding the number of certificates and registrations. Looking from a perspective of different European countries, Italy and Spain have gained highest evaluation concerning the certification of environmental management systems according ISO 14001 and registration in EMAS.

Due to geopolitical location, North-Eastern Polish regions (voivodships) have a big potential for the development of cross-border cooperation. This kind of international activity can have impact on regional development. Polish authorities on the central, regional and local levels initiate, run and co-finance cross-border projects designed to promote integration, understanding and co-operation across the border. According to the aims of the Polish foreign policy the basis of the long-term strategy of regional development of the North-Eastern Poland could be its geographical position and long-established co-operation with Kaliningrad Oblast. Institutional framework of contacts are: intergovernmental agreements, agreements establishing Euroregions, agreements between regional and local authorities. The cross-border cooperation between Warmia and Mazury Region and the Kaliningrad Oblast could be important part of the Polish foreign policy towards Russia.