ES STRUKTŪRINIŲ FONDŲ PARAMOS POVEIKIO EKONOMIKOS KONKURENCINGUMUI PROBLEMATIKA
THE PROBLEM OF EU STRUCTURAL SUPPORT ON THE COMPETITIVENESS OF ECONOMY

Summary/Abstract: Since the increase of competitiveness is one of the basic aims of the EU structural policy, it is purposeful to research whether EU structural support is used efficiently and whether it actually leads to fulfilment of this aim.Although the impact of the EU structural support has been widely analysed in the studies performed by both Lithuanian and foreign authors, it should be noted that the aspect of competitiveness still lacks of scientific attention. Considering the start of the third for Lithuania programming period of 2014-2020, evaluation of the impact of the structural support has become even more topical – for successful fulfilment of the new period aims, the analysis of the results achieved during the previous periods is advantageous. The above explicated reasons comprise the basis for formulation of the following scientific problem: what impact does EU structural support have on the competitiveness of Lithuanian and EU states economies? The object of the research - the impact of the EU structural support on the competitiveness of Lithuanian and EU states economies. The purpose of the research – after assessment of the importance of competitiveness in the EU cohesion policy, to evaluate the impact of the EU structural support on Lithuanian and EU states economies. The methods of the research include scientific literature analysis, statistical data analysis and assessment, expert evaluation.The results of the research have revealed that the benefits of the EU structural support are described by its positive impact on economic development, which emerges as increased investment in R&D and innovations, new products and production methods, improvement of infrastructure and human resources, contributions to unemployment reduction and business development. Uneven income distribution that determines distortions of internal competition, private investment flush out and inflation pressure emerge as the negative effects of the EU structural support. The negative effects mentioned above are basically caused by inefficient allocation and absorption of the support funds.

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