| Abstract [eng] |
120 pages, 4 pictures, 22 tables, 105 references. The main objective of this Master's thesis is to identify the problematic regions of Lithuania and to determine the impact of the sectoral specialisations of these regions on regional and national economic growth. The thesis consists of four parts: an analysis of the scientific literature, the methodology, the results of the study, and conclusions with proposals. The literature review provides an overview of the concepts of region and problem region, economic growth and its determinants and regional specialisation. It also reviews research on regional sectoral specialisations and their impact on economic growth. The study design, methods and indicators were selected on the basis of the literature review. The study focused on evaluating the impact of specialization in different problematic Lithuanian regions on both regional and national economic growth through correlation and regression analyses. Alytus, Panevėžys, and Utena were the regions scrutinized, with 28 regional sectoral specialization indices of each region and 5 economic indicators analyzed. Results indicate varied effects, both positive and negative, of industrial sector specialization on regional and national economic growth. Underscoring the importance of considering industrial sector specialization in regional economic policy formulation. Notably, specialization in the information and communication sector demonstrated a negative influence on regional and national economic growth. in two of the three analyzed regions. This may mean that not enough attention is being paid to the sector in these regions, or that the sector is not productive enough in these regions. Concluding remarks and recommendations consolidate insights from the literature review, analyzed studies, and study findings. The author suggests that these findings could furnish valuable guidance for the analyzed problematic regions of Lithuania in crafting future specialization strategies, shaping regional economic policies, and fostering economic development. |
