Klaipėdos universitetas

The aim of the research is to develop methods that would allow comparingthe statistical parameters of Latviaat differing administrative divisions, thereby solvingthe problems that arise in the case of discrepancy of borders. As part of thework, the developed method was implemented in order to assess the suitabilityof the created tool for mathematical analysis of statistical parameters on Latvia. Theterritory examined in the work is Latvia; the discrepancy of borderswas examined by comparing the parish borders of 1935 with the parishes of 2000.Therefore it was necessary to create a transfer matrix in order to link theadministrative borders of both periods. The transfer matrix was prepared in GISenvironment, combining the parish borders of 1935 and 2000. By conductingtransformation of parish parameters at differing administrative divisions andmaking a transfer from the parish borders of 1935 to 2000, it is possible toobtain relatively accurate value of the relevant parameter within thepresent-day borders. The obtained value can be used as a quantitativeindicator, allowing for quantitative comparison of temporal changes of therelevant parameter at differing administrative divisions, and the value ofthose changes in the examined territories can be used in subsequent statisticalanalysis of the results. By transforming the arable land proportion in ruralparishes of 1935 in accordance with the parish borders of 2000, it was possibleto carry out temporal comparison of this parameter with its value in 2001.

The border effect of Russian and Belarusian border on Latgale electoral district has been analysed in this research. The proportionof Latvians in Latgale border area is a lot smaller in total than in the rest of the Latgale territory and the proportion of all the rest ofthe ethnic minorities in the border area is a lot higher while the number of votes for political parties with a mostly Latvian citizenelectorate is proportionally higher. The obtain results indicate that the border effect on the election results for political parties is notstatistically significant.

Cross-border cooperation is one of the advantages of the EU that presented conditions for economic growth of all Member States when the organization was formed. The aim of the work was to look for quantitative indicators and data processing methods that would characterize cross-border interactions, while looking for and marking out high-integration regions. The authors’ previous studies (Paiders, Paiders, 2010) were aimed at conducting measurements of cross-border interactions in the cluster of European states. In this work, the authors use the already-familiar methodology and indicators in order to analyze the cross-border interactions of African states. The layout of highly integrated borders allowed marking out four groups of African states with the greatest economic integration with neighboring states.