Regional Formation and Development Studies

One of the most important aspects influencing the quality of life is education. The paper includes the research results from an analysis of how the level of education affects quality of life, and the development of different initiatives and values. An analysis of scientific literature is performed, with a more detailed analysis of data from Latvia, taking into account the level of household income and satisfaction with life. Research methods applied: analysis of scientific findings, analysis of time-series on several indicators of development related to different education indicators, and income indicators depending on educational level, with a calculation of income confidence interval with a probability of 0.95 for households with different educational levels. Data used in the research: data from databases of the Official Statistics Portal of the Republic of Latvia, Household Finance and Consumption Survey. The research results indicate that households in Latvia with a higher education have a significantly higher income than households with primary or no education.

The aim of the article is to prove the positive impact of education on work salary. For this purpose, the main task of the article is toestimate the Mincer rate of return by taking several factors into account. A secondary task of the research is to analyze the results of2010 and 2011 and to find explanations for the significant differences between the two years. The results of research and a detailedanalysis of the labour market indicate a positive return from attainment of education at an individual level, and they strengthen thehypothesis about a correlation among higher education attainment, higher employment levels and welfare. So far, the Mincer rate ofreturn has not been widely used in Latvia.

Technological innovations are a crucial component of a green economy transition and there is an urgent need to develop and implement the green technologies into the existing facilities, especially in the developing countries. The purpose of the article is to analyze theoretical approach on the green technologies development. In the article there are analyzed the essence of the concept of green economy and are identified key benefits of green technologies development.

This article discusses non-salaried work in the household. The definition of non-salaried work in the household is formulated by the author, changes in the household are analyzed along with the structure and diversification of the varieties of household work. In research the family is interpreted as a household. It is proposed to evaluate work in the household as a section encompassed by social work in the manner that a composite product or an encompassed part of a social product is evaluated, and therefore up to the present time the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) for a single inhabitant without the income of a household, as a universal indicator, is unable in itself to show the level of people’s welfare. Work, carried out in the household and performed as non-salaried, household labor, would be included, though not insured, as the calculated length of service of the working activity of the person. In evaluating the features of the welfare of inhabitants, it would be more accurate to analyze non-salaried household work carried out in the household along with the characteristics and the structure of consumer requirements and their level of satisfaction and opportunities. This analysis will appraise the extent of the well being of society and its changing trends.

The 21st century is identified in the country’s strategic documents as a century of rapid technological, climatic and economic change, and countries must not be afraid of innovation and knowledge of the world through information technology. According to strategic documents, the education of gifted children is also one of the country’s priorities. Gifted pre-school children need to develop and continuously improve their abilities, and the stimulation of these abilities can be enhanced by information and communication technologies. The article analyses the educational possibilities for gifted pre-school children using information communication technology, the characteristics of gifted pre-schoolers, and the possibilities for the identification of gifted pre-schoolers. The study suggests that gifted pre-school children are educated in an individualised way according to their needs, they are identified by their abilities which stand out from their peers, information communication technologies are used to diversify the education of gifted pre-school children, and that the biggest problem educators face while developing gifted children is the lack of information and the lack of communication tools.