In the second part of the 1990s two scientific programme on
population of Latvia were worked out:
"Population
of Latvia and people's health" (1995-2001)
Project's co - directors Dr.med.Vilnis Dzerve (Latvian
Institute of Cardiology), Dr.habil.demogr. Parsla Eglite (Institute of
Economics), Dr.habil.chem. Elmars Grens (Biomedical research and study
centre), Dr.habil.demogr. Peteris Zvidrins (Centre of Demography).
A programme "Population of Latvia and people's health" was
among the first five research programmes accepted by the Latvian Council
of Science in 1995. The research is aimed to investigative more actual
population replacement, people's health and cardiovascular and
oncological problems. The programme has four subprogrammes, whose titles
and objectives for every year are precised. Further the tasks of
subprogrammes are briefly characterized.
The objectives of the subprogramme "Population replacement in
Latvia" are the formation of the data system in the sphere of the
population reproduction and investigation of the situation of the
replacement of generations in Latvia and its rayons and cities as well
as ethnic groups, in the 1990s. In 1998 population projections were
worked out for Latvia and its regions for the period up to 2025.
In the second subprogramme the researches on "Efficiency of
social policy as regards replacement of generations and health promotion"
were envisaged. The research was aimed to find out the efficiency of
actual state's policy in the fields of replacement of generations,
health promotion and relevant education, its impact on real reproductive
activity in families and dynamics of average life expectancy and also to
work out recommendations for improvement of this policy, based on the
results of the research.
The principal aim of the third subprogramme was to investigate
the most prevalent CVD diseases and their social, environmental and
other factors of risk in the longitudinal investigation based of the
previous crossectional study "Epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases"
(CVD) and, as a result, work out a programme of prophylaxis.
This investigation was the first longitudinal epidemiological
research of this kind in Latvia. It was performed on randomized
selection of the Riga population both males and females in the range
between 20 and 69 years (4,500 people).
The fourth subprogramme's researchers from many institutions -
Biomedical research and study centre, Latvian Medical Academy, National
Health Centre, Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Institute of
Organic Synthesis - were working on molecular and cell biology,
immunology, oncology, organic synthesis and virology. The subprogramme
includes also clinic studies.
"Human
potential in Latvia, its quantitative and qualitative reproduction at
the rise of XXI century" (1997 - 2000)
Project's director Dr. habil.demogr. Parsla Eglite (Institute
of Economics).
The research was aimed to find out changes in human potential in
Latvia both during transition period and years to come, including
characteristics and forecasts of educational level and human potential.
"Development
of households and families in Latvia" (1995-2000)
Project's director Dr. habil. Demogr. Peteris Zvidrins (Centre
of Demography, University of Latvia).
On the base of materials obtained during the fulfilment of two
international research projects the development of marriages, families
and households have been analysed. The research was realized in
cooperation with specialists of United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe in accordance with accepted programme in about 20 countries.
Standard country (Latvia) report has been prepared on family change and
economic and social status of older inhabitants.
"National
processes in Latvia"
Project's director Dr. phil. Elmars Vebers. (Institute of
Philosophy and Sociology). The aim of the programme is to work out the
conception of the political nation of Latvia, the conception of Latvia
as a nation state, and the conception of national politics in Latvia.
"Change
of spatial structure of towns and mobility of population"
Project's director Dr. geogr. Andris Bauls (Department of
Human Geography, University of Latvia).
The target of this project was to analyse social - economical and
spatial behaviour of population and to find out the structurization of
objects of manufacture and social infrastructure in different areas of
the towns in transition period to market economy. Social - economic
behaviour takes shape under conditions of variety of interacting human
cultural pursuits (social, economic, psychological, spatial). Awareness
of societies' heterogeneous nature and clarification of differences in
human understanding and behaviour patterns are of paramount importance
in developing a new human planning system.
"Stratified
analysis of the standard of living of population of Latvia, using
statistical and econometrical methods" (1997 -2000)
Project's director Dr.econ. Inta Ciemina (Department of
Statistics and Demography, University of Latvia).
Main tasks of the project are: to investigate the peculiarities
of living standards of different ethnic groups and pensioners.
In 1998 - 1999 the work was continued maintaining the initial
aims:
- to investigate the peculiarities of the living standards of the
population of Latvia taking into account the differences among national,
social and territorial groups (this investigation should be carried out
on the basis of the data on household budgets provided by the Central
Statistical Bureau of Latvia);
to work out the econometric models of the living standards of the above -
mentioned groups;
to work out recommendations for the Central Statistical Bureau concerning
the improvement of collecting information on the living standards of the
population.
"Results
of population policy in Latvia" (2001 - 2003)
Project's director Dr. habil.demogr. Parsla Eglite.
"Changes
of demographic structures in Latvia at the turn of 20th and 21th
centuries and their consequences ” (2001 - 2003)
Project's director Dr. habil. Demogr. Peteris Zvidrins
The objective of the project is to investigate the dynamics of
demographic structures and consequences of tese changes complexly and in
detail.
"Differentiation
of population ageing and prolongation of length of active life" (2002 -
2005)
Project's director Dr. habil. Demogr. Peteris Zvidrins
The objective of the subprogramme is to investigate the level,
differentiation and factors of population ageing in Latvia during the
last decade and determine the possible ways of increasing the length of
active life.
