Development In Lithuania Research Articles

Folklore Activities of the Lithuanian Science Society: Utopian Goals or Insightful Ideas?

This article deals with two activities of the Lithuanian Science Society (LSS, 1907–1938) and the history of the folklore collections it accumulated. Its members encouraged people to record folk songs, fairytales, stories, riddles, and other forms of folklore, and they tried to gather in one place all the older manuscripts that contained folklore. This way, the LSS’s folklore archive was formed at the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1908, Eduard Wolter, a member of the LSS, made the first folklore sound recordings with a phonograph apparatus. The chair of the Society, Jonas Basanavičius, knew about the Phonogram Archives of Vienna and Berlin; therefore, he encouraged the establishment of such an archive in Vilnius. Another idea of the LSS, initiated by Mykolas Biržiška, was to gather all the songs in one place and to publish a national songbook. Unfortunately, these goals were visionary and utopian for this period of cultural development in Lithuania. In this study, the birth of these ideas and the path to their realisation are chronologically reviewed. The author discusses the reasons why they were not accomplished in the first part of the twentieth century, and gives explanations for why they were successfully implemented in the second part of the twentieth – beginning of the twenty-first centuries. The historical-political context as well as the actual digitisation of intangible heritage archives help clarify the process.

Approaches to the Lithuanian Folk Ballad in the Second Half of the 20th Century

This historiographic survey strives to demonstrate the considerable attention that the Lithuanian folk-ballads received in the second half of the 20th century. The historiographic material is presented systematically, while employing contextual data as well. Thus, Jonas Balys continued in emigration his interwar research of the ballads; in 1954 he published the catalogue of the “Lithuanian Narrative Folksongs”, and continued to keenly follow latest developments in Lithuania and review folklore studies. In Germany, Erich Seemann published in 1951 his research on the connections between the German and the Lithuanian folksongs, where he also discussed migration of ballads. On this side of the Iron Curtain, Pranė Jokimaitienė reflected on the works by Balys and other colleagues. In the monographs published during the Soviet-period, ballads were to some extent touched upon by Danutė Krištopaitė (1965), Jadvyga Čiurlionytė (1966), and Donatas Sauka (1970). In 1966, Vladimir Toporov published an article on the structure of the Lithuanian ballads. In 1968, a comprehensive study by Jokimaitienė was published, establishing in our folkloristics the canonic paradigm of ballad research, which has remained valid till the present day. The author of this article seeks to reveal the various ways of the paradigm of ballad research becoming entrenched in Lithuanian folkloristics during that time. The mosaic of approaches to Lithuanian ballads shows the prevalence of the above-mentioned paradigm as a process which several folklore researchers were engaged with. Insights and studies from that period have remained relevant to the contemporary ballad researchers.

Hybrid Communication as a Prospect for Organisation Development

Recently, hybrid communication is gaining more and more importance in our society (Bielinis, 2020) - due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social restrictions, people were forced to use remote means of communication, thanks to which it was possible not only to avoid, but also to effectively manage the COVID-19 pandemic. However, hybrid communication is relevant not only in this context - thanks to it, members of various organizations can carry out continuous communication and connect 24/7 from anywhere in the world. A study by Berger et al. (2021) found that before the global COVID-19 pandemic, only 35% of organizations used/aspired to use a hybrid work model, but now even 77% use this work model. (Berger, Weber & Buser, 2021). Organizations that previously conducted their activities in a contact manner and could not imagine an effective flexible combination of remote and contact work methods, now face new challenges of internal processes, employee performance and change management. However, properly chosen methods of information transfer help to ensure targeted achievement of organizational goals, change management and smooth internal operational processes. Therefore, in the context of the hybrid work model, active and purposeful communication becomes particularly significant. The aim of the article is to determine the features of hybrid communication when applied to business development in Lithuania. The research showed that hybrid communication encouraged the introduction of new information dissemination channels in the organization, more efficient time management and increased employee productivity. However, the study also diluted the challenges of hybrid communication: i.e. the adaptation of new employees, the problem of receiving feedback, the abundance of e-mails and the growing social exclusion of employees, the consequences of which could be examined in other studies.

Assessment of the barriers towards more rapid development of solar power: the case of Lithuania

Many countries in the world pay special attention to the development of energy from renewable energy sources. However, the efforts made are still insufficient to ensure the desired pace of development. Moreover, independence from fossil fuels is more important than ever in the context of the war in Ukraine. Solar-photovoltaic energy production solutions are particularly attractive for achieving the desired scale of development due to their relatively simple deployment. However, to involve a larger number of prosumers – individuals and communities, it is necessary to further reduce the barriers to such an activity. Although researchers pay considerable attention to the development of energy from renewable energy sources, the topic of solar energy is not so well explored. In addition, it is noted that research on barriers that prevent development should be linked to the situation in a particular country. Therefore, the goal of the research presented in this work is to assess the importance of solar-photovoltaic energy development barriers specific to Lithuania. The literature review was carried out to consider specific barriers to solar energy development and to analyse barriers typical for the development of other sorts of renewable energy. This review allowed us to distinguish barriers relevant to more rapid solar-photovoltaic energy development in Lithuania, dividing them into five groups: (1) economic and financial, (2) policy and regulation, (3) institutional and administrative, (4) information, awareness, and social, and (5) technological barriers. An assessment of the barriers was based on the expert interview method. The individual evaluations of barriers and their rating determined their importance toward more rapid solar-photovoltaic power development in Lithuania. The results obtained during the research made it possible to single out the following main barriers specific to Lithuania: grid capacity and integration into electricity distribution grids; spatial planning and/or zoning rules; permitting, licensing, and approval procedures; changing and/or unclear policies; grid usage fees and their regulation; low electricity price and/or cost of other sources of electricity. In addition, insights into to the ways of their neutralisation or at least reduction were provided pointing out that it should be considered at both the state and municipal levels.

Lithuania: Political Developments and Data in 2021

AbstractThe main political developments in Lithuania in 2021 were mayoral elections in three municipalities, tensions in the Cabinet related to management of the COVID‐19 pandemic and a conflict between Lithuania and China, splits in the parliamentary political groups, and party leadership changes. Much of the article is devoted to issue politics, including the migration crisis, and social unrests directed against both the government's pandemic measures and the progressive agenda of the ruling parties.

DEVELOPMENT OF FINTECH BUSINESS IN LITHUANIA: DRIVING FACTORS AND FUTURE SCENARIOS

Purpose – the research aims to find out the main factors that determine the change in the number of FinTech companies in Lithuania and predict the future development of this sector. Research object: FinTech business sector, described as the number of FinTech companies. Research methodology – scientific literature analysis and generalisation, comparative analysis, statistical data collection and systematisation, correlation-regression analysis, scenario method for forecasting. Findings – the main factors that may determine the growth of the number of FinTech companies in Lithuania were identified and several development scenarios of the segment forecasted. The first part analyses related scientific investigations and FinTech's impact on the financial system as a whole. In the empirical part, a correlation and regression analysis of the factors that may determine the change of a number of FinTech companies was performed and ten main factors identified. The possible evolution of the number of FinTech companies until 2024 under 5 scenarios has been predicted. Research limitations – the statistical information used in this research comes from different databases and different sources and may not always be free from certain discrepancies. Practical implications – the obtained results may be of interest for researchers who examine this issue and the Central Bank of Lithuania, performing surveillance of the financial market. The forecast under various scenarios of the economic situation enables the estimation of the impact the FinTech business may have and can be useful for the Ministry of Finance involved in strategic planning. Originality/Value – an attempt was made to fill in the scientific literature gaps and find out what factors influence the most FinTech sector development in Lithuania and how this sector might grow in the future.

The Ecosystem Approach in Addressing Sustainable Development Goals through Citizen Science in Lithuania

This article presents an overview of the ecosystem of citizen science development in Lithuania and its potential to address United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). As citizen science is still in the early development stage in Lithuania, this case study is an example of ecosystem analysis in the period of early citizen science adoption. This article highlights the holistic analysis of the different components of this ecosystem, focusing on the three major dimensions at different levels—content, actors and processes. A conceptual model for the analysis of the citizen science ecosystem was developed based on the theoretical assumptions of Systems Theory and Service Science. The model was tested with empirical data. The empirical findings are based on 30 interviews with representatives of different stakeholder groups. Summarizing the analysis of the citizen science ecosystem in Lithuania and its potential for SDGs achievement, it can be stated that the first signs of a co-creative processes in the citizen science ecosystem have already emerged. Currently, in Lithuania, the main potential of citizen science concentrates on contributing to Goal #15: Life on Land, with some potential also for contributing to Goals #4, #10 and #11 and others. However, in order to use citizen science for addressing SDGs more comprehensively, there is a need for greater involvement of different stakeholders in citizen science, both in promoting citizen science activities and in ensuring data quality and that these activities are implemented in accordance with research ethics.

Export Promotion Changes of Sme’s for Export Expansion Directions Development in Lithuania

The article aims to show that conditioned by globalization processes integration tendencies in the world economy stimulate the search of new export expansion directions and development methods. Their evaluation and implementation are important driving forces for national economic growth and sustainable development of regions. Current Lithuanian state’s position in export promotion, as it enters into exchanges with the ever-changing global environment, must be conceptually justified, enabling equal participation in the international trade and the ability to withstand globalization’s challenges. Most importantly, export promotion and development mechanisms and instruments should allow for timely responses towards the increasing liberalization of economic relationships and encourage the introduction of prerequisites for the acceleration of economic growth through export expansion.

JAV lietuvių tautininkų Lietuvai vaduoti sąjungos įkūrimas 1941 metais

THE FOUNDING OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE LIBERATION OF LITHUANIA BY AMERICAN-LITHUANIAN NATIONALISTS IN 1941 Summary Historiography lacks a deep and thorough analysis of the Association for the Liberation of Lithuania (ALL), the American-Lithuanian organisation of nationalists (tautininkai), and yet its founding in 1941 marked the beginning of independent actions by American-Lithuanian nationalists and their relations 155 with the US government. Unfortunately, their efforts were undermined by their opponents (the Catholics and the socialists in particular), who expressed concerns regarding their agenda. Among the most notable claims were that the ALL duplicated the agenda of the Lithuanian American Council (LAC), and interfered in common interests during the Second World War. The Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1940 greatly encouraged different patriotic political groups (Catholics, nationalists and socialists) to combine their efforts and establish a common political organisation, the Lithuanian Rescue Council, which in 1941was renamed the Lithuanian American Council. Unfortunately, the nationalists found it difficult to accept a common financing model and the dominance of the Catholic group, which led to friction within the organisation. Moreover, Antanas Smetona, the president of Lithuania, who arrived in the USA in 1941, received a cold and unfriendly welcome from the socialists and the Catholics. Consequently, this caused even greater dissatisfaction in the nationalist group, as they had hoped to work closely with the former president to help the occupied country. Therefore, Smetona became a unifying axis for the nationalists, and a reason for them to withdraw from the council. It is no coincidence that the 1941 nationalist convention was held at Juozas Balčiūnas’ summer house in Michigan: President Smetona was living there with his family. Soon the Tabor Farm became a nationalist hub, which united like-minded Lithuanian-Americans from Chicago to Brooklyn. The twoday convention was attended by 27 nationalist delegates, as well as other guests, including Jadvyga Tubelienė and the consul Petras Daužvardis. The event is also known for the founding of the ALL and the Information Bureau, as well as the establishment of the Lithuanian National Relief Fund, which brought together other smaller nationalist funds. The purpose of the fund was to collect donations not only from Lithuanians, but also from American citizens, to support Lithuania and its diaspora. The aforementioned organisations settled in Chicago in order to keep the balance between the patriotic left and right wings. Antanas Olis, a US-born lawyer, stood out as a new leader, and was elected head of all three organisations. The participants in the conference at the Tabor Farm approved the ALL statutes, which defined the structure of the new organisation, its goals and agenda. The statutes also highlighted the aim of this nationalist organisation, which was not only to work with the Lithuanian diaspora, but also to establish relations with the political class in the USA. It was essential to inform them about recent developments in Lithuania, and to garner their support in order to restore Lithuania’s independence. The main idea was to openly support the Lithuanian government, which was formed by local citizens rather than by foreigners.

Lithuanian Active Labour Market Policy in 2009–2020: a Social Investment Perspective

An active labour market policy is an integral part of social policy, ensuring support for the unemployed to search for a job through developing their skills. Thus, the active labour market policy is part of the social investment, focusing on investment in people’s knowledge. The heart of social investment is the design of policy-enhancing people to work, use their skills, create families and grow up children. The active labour market policy was analysed, focusing on the measures and their development in Lithuania. At the same time, the analysis from the social investment perspective was missing. Thus, this research aims to analyse Lithuania’s active labour market policy from the social investment perspective between 2009 and 2020. The choice of the period was determined by the time of the world financial crisis in 2009 and the Covid-19 pandemic crisis in 2020. The analysis of legal documents and Eurostat data for 2009-2018 was used to attain the formulated aim. Additionally, the meta-analysis of the Ministry of Social security and Labour’s Social Reports in 2009-2017 was used to analyse active labour market policy development. The research is based on methodology, which suggests classifying the active labour market measures into the strong and weak investments in human capital. A strong investment provides basic education or training, and a weak one creates new jobs, job subsidies, counselling, services for getting the job, job searching programmes, benefits, and taxes allowances. The analysis of the Lithuanian active labour market policy measures revealed that both strong and weak investments in human capital were balanced only during the crises. However, during the inter-crisis period, Lithuania’s active labour market policy measures were more focused on the weaker investment in human capital measures or the “job first” strategy. The strong investment in human capital was the lowest in Lithuania among other Baltic countries during the analysed period.

DARNAUS VYSTYMOSI SRIČIŲ DINAMIKOS VERTINIMAS LIETUVOJE

The article discusses economic growth influence to sustainable development. According to the collected theoretical material, it analyzes the impact of economic growth to social and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The analysis of statistical data using integrated index of sustainable development allowed evaluating the impact of economic growth to sustainable development in in Lithuania on 2000−2011. Studies carried out in foreign universities confirmed a hypothesis that further extensive studies are necessary in order to understand the essence and evaluation of the concept of sustainable development. The basic idea behind the scientific problem studied in the paper can be described as the following: what are the regularities of the concept of sustainable development and its evaluation, that allow assess the economic growth influence to dimensions of sustainability and to sustainable development of the country. The main problem of the paper is stated as follows: how to achieve economic growth considering economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainable development? Research object – the impact of economic growth to dimensions of sustainable development. Research aim is to analyze and assess dynamics of sustainable development dimensions in Lithuania. Research tasks: theoretically to analyze the influence of economic growth to social and environmental dimensions; after methodological calculations of indicators of sustainable development in Lithuania, to evaluate the tendencies of changes of sustainable development dimensions and to forecast perpectives. Research methods contributing to this paper are: systematic scientific literature analysis, statistical data and comparative analysis, regression analysis, use of SPSS 17 (Statistical Package for Social Science) and Package Microsoft Excel. Theoretical analysis done in the paper quit well show, that systems of assessment of influence of economic growth to sustainable development must take in account three closely related dimensions: economic, social and environmental. Integrated sustainable development index and trend were used and evaluated that the biggest increasing of index was noticed by given stable inflation rate. Analysis done in the paper quit well show, that for problems solving can be used fiscal instrument – taxes. Keywords: sustainable development; economic growth, environment, social deimension, index. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.15181/rfds.v12i1.685

CAUSAL SURVEY OF PURCHASE OF NON-LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FOR LITHUANIAN CONSUMERS

On purpose to increase the demand for insurance services in Lithuania there still remains a problem of how consumers perceive this service as well as what components, influencing their decision to purchase non-life insurance products, they accentuate in the price of insurance service. Emphasizing the assumptions of sustainable economic development in Lithuania and attempting to form regional policy by means of research, the study was implemented in order to identify factors and causal relationships that determine non-life insurance product purchasing motives in Lithuania. The study conducted a survey of Klaipeda city residents who buy various insurance products in different insurance companies. In total 420 respondents participated in this survey. To verify the results of the research three tests were applied: Pearson‘s Chi-square test, Fisher test (Fisher’s exact) and Cramer’s V test. It was identified that friends’ recommendations do not affect consumer‘s choice for insurance products. Higher rates of benefits as well as flexible pricing policy were not important factors choosing an insurance company. High insurance product’s cost and unclear conditions set in the contracts do not encourage consumers to purchase them. In the course of the research significant relationships between the consumer’s choice to insure by specific insurance product and consumer’s discount-enhanced motivation to purchase insurance products were not observed. All measured insurance products did not reflect statistically significant correlations between the decision to get insured and the knowledge about the prices in other insurance companies. KEY WORDS: non-life insurance products, price, consumers’ perceived value. JEL CODES: C83; G 22; E30; L11; Y10; D46. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/rfds.v14i3.868

Ankstyvieji ekumeniniai ryšiai tarp Romos Katalikų, Stačiatikių ir Liuteronų Bažnyčių sovietinėje Lietuvoje, komunistinės valdžios reakcija

In the 1960s, when the Second Vatican Council and the Moscow Patriarchate invited Christian churches to develop closer ecumenical relationships, the first signs of ecumenism appeared in Lithuania. In 1965, the first ecumenical service was held in the Šilutė Lutheran Church, which was attended by representatives of four denominations. Such ecumenical relations soon became a common phenomenon in Soviet Lithuania. The article analyzes the origins of the ecumenical movement and its development in Lithuania, as well as the reaction of the Commissioner of the Council of Religious Affairs in Moscow for Lithuania to this new religious phenomenon.

Mental health policy issues and development in Lithuania

Abstract Background Lithuanian has experienced rapid and relatively successful transition to capitalism and transatlantic-Western values and practices in recent decades. Suicide and legal alcohol consumption rates remain the highest in the EU and OECD, and Lithuania's Positive emotions index score has been consistently amongst the 10 lowest in the world in recent years. Emigration rate is the highest in the EU and OECD, social inequality is amongst the highest in the same groups. Despite a relatively strong economy these changes are not automatically transferred to better social and emotional well-being. Methods This unconventional situation calls for strong and unconventional policy responses in the area of mental health, amongst others. Health impact assessment using theory-based approach and desk research. Results Recent attempts include strategic reorientation towards social and emotional well-being, stronger focus on prevention and promotion and primary care, intensifying efforts to reduce suicide rates, and implementation of strong regulatory measures to reduce alcohol use. Suicide rates have been declining since 2013 but remain high. Effort is made to implement best practices in media reporting, recognition and providing appropriate help for those in suicide crisis, expanding prevention efforts. Conclusions Finally, WHOs “best buys” in alcohol control were implemented since 2017, including steep increases in excise taxes, ban on alcohol advertisement, increase of allowed age, reducing alcohol trading hours and others. This resulted in the steepest decline of legal alcohol consumption in decades. The chosen policy route may be called iterative policy-making, whereby improvements are made along the way, which allows for quicker policy decisions and results. Key messages Mental health policies need to be based on the socio-political context of the specific country. Smaller countries such as Lithuania might benefit form flexible approaches to mental health policies.

Impact of the Renewable Energy Development in Lithuania‘s Energy Economy

Paper is characterized by scientific novelty as it involves a very scarce research problem in Lithuanian‘s energy sector, assessing the impact of renewable energy resources on the energy economy. Renewable energy sources have a multiplier effect in spurring the economy and the development of not only the energy sector but also all the supporting activities related to such industry. The impact of the development of renewable energy is one of the factors that develop the quality of technology innovation development. This study includes the impact of renewable energy on the energy economy, using multiple linear regression models. The results of the study have shown that renewable energy resources: wind, sun, water, geothermal and biomass can not always be used together because they compete with each other and therefore reduce the efficiency of the energy economy. In this context, three combinations of renewable energy resources have been developed, which have been adapted to assess the impact of the energy economy on energy productivity and energy intensity. It has been found that the combination of resources of the second model (M2) RE is significant for the efficiency of the energy economy.Keywords: Renewable energy resources; Energy economy; Impact of efficiency

Synthesis of Biocomposite with Different Ratios of Rapeseed Oil Binder/Wood Bark: Mechanical and Hygrothermal Properties

Growing economy is a basis of public well-being, and its rapid growth is implemented on the expense of environmental quality; therefore, the harmonization of different aims and interests is one of the most important aspects of sustainable development concept. One of the priorities of sustainable development in Lithuania – the reduction of building and building materials industries’ impact on environment by increasing their eco and energy efficiency; consequently, the use of waste from renewable resources for the synthesis of chemical materials and production of building materials may reduce the usage of limited sources and emission of greenhouse gases. Such waste open up the opportunities to partially or fully replace traditional materials such as petroleum based polymers or cements which production emits many pollutants, uses lots of energy and natural resources. Nowadays, wood and agricultural waste are used for the production of biofuel; however, such heat source provides with short-term benefit. The use of the above mentioned waste materials for the production of bio-based thermal insulating composites would provide with long-term benefit and contribute to the improvement of currently targeted energy performance of buildings. During the study, it was obtained that the ratios of wood bark/rapeseed binder changes the main parameters of biocomposites. The obtained products are characterized by the density ranging from 329 kg/m3 to 378 kg/m3 and thermal conductivity – from 0.0665 W/(m·K) to 0.0781 W/(m·K). The compressive strength and short-term water absorption have shown that biocomposites can be used as a self-bearing structural materials due its sufficient strength which is approx. 2 MPa and water uptake varies from 20 vol.% to 40 vol.%.

Depopulation tendencies and territorial development in Lithuania

Depopulation tendencies and territorial development in Lithuania

Learning Environment by the Future Society: Development of School Grounds in Lithuania

This paper presents particular aspects of educational function of the schoolyard, and argues that such a space could be used for educating the young generation, collaboration and interaction in creating the living environment. Research of Lithuanian schools’ architecture during the last few decades has indicated the practice of using the school courtyard that could be described as “Forgotten Space”. Education scholars pay exclusive attention to the interaction between learning and playing. Urban gardening, environmental monitoring, design-build studios become integral parts of secondary or even primary education. These activities need proper environment. The majority of Lithuanian youth attends schools built in the interwar and soviet periods that rarely fit the up-todate paradigm of education and spatial needs. This makes the school environment problematic but, at the same time, perfect as a transformation laboratory for communities as the non-generic “commissioners”, potential driving force of such actions. Architects, landscape architects, urban designers and planners occasionally look at the cooperation with communities as an obstacle or formal “must”. Since 2014, the Faculty of Architecture, VGTU, started to act as a catalyst activating discussions and alternative visions for changes of school spaces, mostly anticipating that the youth (students and school-children) involved would accustom themselves to active and constant co-creation and maintenance of their environment. The overview of the school grounds development in Lithuania during the last century was performed by consistent analysis of different functions. The study of each possible function of school outdoor area was done by applying the three-aspect correlation method: the education theory, legal building regulations and school environment practice. The study of school ground as the contemporary collectively developed playscape presented the results of experimental practices on participatory design and community engagement.

Climate-change-related long-term historical and projected changes to spring barley phenological development in Lithuania

AbstractThough the number of climate-change-related agro-phenological investigations are growing rapidly, the attention paid to spring crops has been much less than to winter ones. The objective of the current study was to investigate long-term temporal and spatial trends of spring barley phenology and to project changes in the timing and duration of different phenological phases during the current century. Higher temperatures significantly affected the potential scheduling of agricultural practices, accelerating the occurrence of sowing and emergence dates. Historical trends in harvest dates of spring barley showed a slight delay. These changes resulted in the extension of the total vegetative period of spring barley by >12 days over the period investigated (1961–2015). Since Lithuania is situated on the Baltic Sea, an increase in temperature along with an increase in distance from the sea was characteristic over the last 55 years. Projected changes in the occurrence of phenological phases of spring barley differ significantly from analysed historical changes and advancement of all phenological phases have been projected according to both Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6 and RCP 8.5 climate change scenarios. Shortening of the total vegetative period by 5 days is foreseen for the far (2071–2100) future according to the pessimistic (RCP 8.5) climate change scenario.

The Development of Rural Peripheral Areas in Lithuania: The Challenges of Socio-Spatial Transition

Abstract The collapse of the Soviet utopian world, where the government sought to plan and control economic and social processes, caused a wave of significant changes in the post-socialist countries. The territorial regrouping of citizens is one of the hard to control changes that started at the end of the 1990s in Lithuania. This article identifies the major changes in the settlement system in Lithuania and its effects on peripheral areas. The main scope of this article is an analysis of the potential of residents from peripheral areas to adapt to the rapidly changing socio-economic environment. For the analysis, we used data and information gathered during field trips to peripheral rural areas throughout the country between 2013 and 2014. This study found that the residents who remained in peripheral areas had several opportunities in rapidly changing environment after Lithuania gained its Independence in 1990. Interviews with local authorities allowed us to define three groups of residents and their potential to adapt to the labour market: those who are active, those who are passive and those who choose social benefits instead of a work salary. The survey results allowed us to predict that the ‘central-peripheral’ spatial structure will be one of the main factors influencing regional development in Lithuania in the near future.