Quantitative data about societal and economic transformations in the regions of the three Baltic States during the last hundred years for the analysis of historical transformations and the overcoming of future challenges
Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences ·Latvia
About this project
<p>This project breaks new interdisciplinary ground in the socio-economic history of the Baltic countries, providing for the first time cross-time and cross-country comparable gross domestic product (GDP) data series for all three countries, covering the complete 100 years period since the end of independence wars. Applying a methodology tested in recent research on the economic development of Europe‘s regions since 1900, it will decompose these series down to a regional level to explore trends in the economic and social disparities between regions inside of each Baltic State. It is promoted by the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Latvia, and led by its Rector Gatis Krūmiņš. It involves experienced researchers from Estonia (Olaf Mertelsmann and Martin Klesment, University of Tartu), Lithuania (Zenonas Norkus, Vilnius University) and Norway (Ola Honingdal Grytten, Norwegian School of Economics), who will provide methodological knowledge transfer from advanced Norwegian to catching-up Baltic research in the national and regional quantitative socio-economic history. Besides economic disparities between regions, measured by levels of the GDP per capita, changing cross-regional differences in demographic structures and inequalities in human development (education, life expectancy, availability of social services) will be comparatively investigated. For these research aims a depository of statistical data will be created, containing data series on demographic and socioeconomic indicators. This data depositary will serve as open source of reliable information for scenario planning and forecasting in regional policy making, media literacy and strategic communications needs. As a result of the project, a collective monograph will be prepared for publication in an international publishing house and 8 internationally refereed publications. </p>
Bilateral cooperation results
The BALTIC100 project has perfectly demonstrated the benefits of cooperation. Using the expertise of scientific institutions representing Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Norway, we combined it and achieved the result in a relatively short time. Not only the collection of data and the calculation of GDP, but also the fact that all this work was done according to a unified methodology, must be highlighted as a success. The University of Vilnius undertook the calculation of GDP, the University of Tartu carried out source analysis and criticism, while Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences coordinated the work and created the database. The involvement of the Norwegian School of Economics was significant – in Norway, the GDP has already been calculated for the last 200 years and they are currently working on the 18th century. The involvement and advice of Norwegian scientists in difficult moments was irreplaceable. The collection of historical data in small countries is specific. Much of the data is unpublished, found in archival collections and only in the national language. Working in Estonia without mastering the Estonian language would be very difficult, the same can be applied to Latvia and Lithuania. Much of the data available on the period of occupation of the USSR was in Russian and was not published. During the first year of the project, the COVID-19 pandemic came as an unpleasant surprise. This made the archives of the Baltic States inaccessible and some of the planned works were delayed. Part of the data collection was postponed to a later time, and at this moment of congestion, the opportunity to attract a researcher from Ukraine – Yuliia Kovalenko – came as an important solution. She was actively involved in the work of the project, helping collect and systematize data on the period of occupation of the USSR in Latvia and Lithuania. This made it possible to expand the number of working fields and data series in the database.
Project partners
- NHH Norwegian School of Economics Donor project partner· Norway
- Vilnius University Project partner· Lithuania
- University of Tartu Project partner· Estonia