Baltic Journal of Legal and Social Sciences

SMALL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCREASING EMPLOYMENT LEVELS IN LATVIA

Elena Sventitskaya — 2024-05-30

The article examines and substantiates the main approaches to stimulating small business activity through proposed development scenarios, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages for each type of scenario. It analyzes the impact of taxation and specific risks arising in small business activities on their stability and development. Based on the assertion that small businesses expand employment and create favorable conditions for more rational economic development in the regions, the sectoral structure of small business entrepreneurial activity within Latvia’s administrative-territorial division is reviewed.

IDENTIFICATION OF ATTRIBUTES AND COMMUNICATION CHANNELS BASED ON SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Lada Širjajeva — 2024-05-30

In the modern age, universities are experiencing the impact of increased competition in the educational services market, and the emergence of many social networking platforms and communication methods, which negatively affect the quality of communication between students and the university. The purpose of the study is to identify the main and relevant channels and methods of communication when foreign students search for information about Estonian universities. The study revealed that the use of various communication channels is influenced by gender, age, and educational background of students. The results show differences in the use of communication channels among Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD students of different ages and genders. The study found that for all groups of international students, the presence of popular, high-engagement social media accounts is perceived positively, while the absence of such accounts has a negative impact.

THE IMPACT OF THE SHARING ECONOMY ON TOURIST ACCOMMODATION PREFERENCES: A CASE STUDY OF SPAIN

Alla Iljina — 2024-05-30

This study aims to examine tourists’ preferences between traditional hotel accommodations and rental options like Airbnb, Vrbo, and HomeAway in Spain. The research will explore the key factors shaping these preferences within the framework of the sharing economy, focusing on aspects such as costeffectiveness, convenience, location, safety, and overall experience. Ultimately, the research will contribute to the broader understanding of how the sharing economy is reshaping the global tourism industry, offering both opportunities and challenges for traditional and alternative accommodation providers. Additionally, it will assess the impact of cultural and regional differences, shedding light on whether international visitors and domestic tourists prioritise different aspects when selecting accommodations. The study’s conclusions may also inform marketing strategies, tourism infrastructure development, and regulatory policies aimed at balancing the needs of tourists, local communities, and service providers in an increasingly competitive and diversified marketplace.

SOCIAL MEDIA METRICS AS AN INDICATOR OF UNIVERSITY RANKINGS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN FOREIGN STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN THE BALTIC COUNTRIES

Lada Širjajeva — 2024-05-30

Universities play an important role in expanding intellectual capital, particularly in the context of implementing international educational policies. Attracting international students is necessary for expanding educational opportunities and fostering expertise, innovation, and constructive partnerships. One effective method for attracting foreign students and enhancing engagement is the analysis of social media metrics. This research aims to determine whether the growth of social media fans and interactions, particularly on Facebook, correlates with an increase in foreign student enrollment and university rankings. The result of this research shows that social media metrics on Facebook can be categorized as stable and unstable. A stable metric, the “Fans” indicator, is dependent on university ratings, as evidenced by comparisons between leading universities with high numbers of foreign students and universities in the Baltic countries, regardless of the cluster. Unstable metrics, such as Page Performance Index, Follower Growth, and Post Interaction, do not correlate with the university rating and tend to be more volatile. To develop an effective social media promotion strategy for international students, universities must consider distinct categories of social media metrics.

PROBLEMS OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE EXPANSION OF FINTECH TECHNOLOGIES AND THE GRADUAL TRANSITION TO SETTLEMENTS IN CRYPTOCURRENCY

Jurijs Baltgailis — 2024-05-30

The market capitalization of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and others, has grown significantly over the past few years. This confirms that cryptocurrencies are becoming an increasingly recognized and stable asset. Cryptocurrencies have begun to attract the attention of large institutional investors such as hedge funds, investment banks, and even large corporations. For example, companies such as Tesla, BlackRock and others have started to actively invest in cryptocurrency. BlacRock offered its options for stabilizing assets in the cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin price is constantly growing, despite cyclical downturns its correlation with the price of gold is stable and gives a stable position to the assets in bitcoins Figure 1. Cryptocurrencies are increasingly being used for international transfers, online payments and even as a means of savings. For example, some countries such as El Salvador have recognized Bitcoin as an official currency, demonstrating the potential of cryptocurrency as a medium of exchange. Decentralized financial (DeFi) platforms have begun to compete with traditional financial institutions by offering lending, insurance, and exchange services without intermediaries. The rise of cryptocurrencies is also associated with increasing risks to traditional financial markets, such as high volatility, the threat of money laundering and terrorist financing through anonymous crypto networks. Financial regulators around the world are actively working on creating new standards and approaches to control cryptocurrencies, which confirms the importance of this topic for the stability of the financial system.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MAIN THEORETICAL PROVISIONS ON THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MINOR PARTICIPANTS OF THE EUROPEAN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS (USING THE EXAMPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA) IN THE INVESTIGATION OF CRIMES

Marina Sumbarova — 2024-05-30

The article is devoted to the research of current issues related to the legal status of minor participants of the European criminal proceedings (using the example of the Republic of Latvia). Their rights and responsibilities during investigative actions during the investigation of criminal proceedings (criminal cases) are considered, an analysis of the conceptual characteristics of participants in criminal proceedings is carried out, the features of their legal status are determined, and practical examples are given. The issues of improving the institution of participants in criminal proceedings are relevant for this research. The author focuses in the article on guarantees of compliance with the rights and obligations of participants in criminal proceedings, which definitely entails compliance with human rights and freedoms. The introduction of new participants in criminal proceedings, including minors, into European legal acts, including the Latvian Criminal Procedure Law, the expansion of their rights and obligations, contribute to the further improvement of their legal status at all stages of criminal proceedings.

CHARACTERISTICS OF INSURANCE ACCESSORIES

Irina Gafta — 2024-05-30

Insurance is a necessary element of modern society, it allows not only to provide compensation for the damage caused to the policy holder, but also to protect him from possible insured risks. The relevance of the article is due to the need to classify insurance as a means of ensuring the fulfilment of obligations. The use of insurance as a means of securing obligations in legal doctrine is still debatable, and there is no unified position among legal scholars as to whether insurance is recognised as a security for the performance of obligations, which would make it possible to determine its accessory nature. At the same time, the possibilities of insurance of the risk of liability for breach of contractual obligations are considered, when insurance becomes dependent on the main obligation. The author studies the classification of forms of security, analyses the specifics of insurance and its types. This helps to reveal the potential of using insurance as security for the principal obligation. The article reveals how the specificities of certain types of insurance contracts, revealing the signs of their accessory nature, the relevant conclusions are made as to whether the insurance contract can act as collateral (related) security of the main obligation, corresponding to the signs of accessory nature.

APPLICATION OF CONCLUSIVE ACTIONS IN COMMERCIAL RELATIONS (CHALLENGES AND PRACTICE)

Jurijs Mašošins — 2024-05-30

Cooperation between business partners, customers, and other market participants often depends not only on words, but is sometimes expressed through behaviour or silence. A conclusive action is the action that is associated with an unspoken willingness to conclude, continue, change or terminate a contract. The use of conclusive actions is an integral part of modern business. From an economic perspective, conclusive actions are an important legal instrument in commercial relations, as they allow entrepreneurs to conduct transactions without the need to formalize each act. This type of transaction is most often chosen when it is the best way for various reasons. The authors of the article paid attention to the concept of conclusive actions, their legal basis and the features of their practical application. Inaccurate interpretation of conclusive actions can lead to errors made by business people, non-compliance with contracts, and economic losses. The specification of relevant actions makes it possible to create a set of general principles, including various types of legal situations that arise during the organization and implementation of commercial actions.

POPULAR INITIATIVE IN LATVIA

Inese Nikuļceva — 2024-05-30

Article 78 of the Latvian Constitution provides for the popular initiative, i.e., the right of not less than one tenth of the electorate to submit a fully elaborated draft law for consideration of the parliament. If the parliament does not adopt it without change as to its content, a referendum is held. Such regulation was characteristic in Europe at 1922, when the Latvian Constitution was adopted, but it is distinctive today, as in other European states submission of a draft law signed by the voters to the parliament usually does not create an obligation of the parliament to adopt the law or to hold a referendum. Since 2012, at least 10 000 Latvian citizens have the right to hand in a collective submission to the Latvian parliament. The collective submission is a form of direct democracy in the broadest sense, however, it is different from the popular initiative. It is up-to-date and simpler mechanism than popular initiative and subsequent referendum provided for in Article 78 of the Latvian Constitution, and it gives a small number of Latvian citizens opportunity to put a significant for them topic in the agenda of the parliament.

CHARACTERISTICS OF WORK MOTIVATION OF EMPLOYEES IN ORGANIZATIONS DURING CRISIS CONDITIONS

Ishgalei Ishmuhametov — 2024-05-30

This scientific article delves into the examination of how crisis situations affect the work motivation of employees within an organization. The research is grounded in the analysis of theoretical aspects of motivation, the influence of crises on employee incentive mechanisms, and an exploration of employees’ attitudes towards various work motivation factors. Encompassing four diverse organizations offering a range of business services, this research aims to determine the impact of crises on employee work motivation across varying contexts. Data were collected through surveys administered to employees, managers, and leading specialists within these organizations. The surveys were conducted anonymously, adhering to strict confidentiality policies. The survey process consisted of two phases, with 89 out of 117 employees participating in the initial phase and 84 in the subsequent stage. The findings of the study underscore the importance of effectively managing employee motivation during crises. This involves the swift adaptation of the motivation system, considering both material and nonmaterial incentives, particularly for key specialists. Effective management of salaries and bonuses remains paramount. Furthermore, intangible factors such as involvement in corporate processes, assuming additional responsibilities, and fostering career growth significantly influence employee motivation during times of crisis. Interpersonal relationships and the recognition of employee accomplishments also assume substantial roles in enhancing motivation.

DOES FORGIVENESS/ UN FORGIVENESS LOOKS AS WHITE/BLACK FOR OUR SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING

Gershons Breslavs — 2024-05-30

Research on resentment (unforgiveness) and forgiveness is presented in the scientific literature in a clear disparity with its real-life implications. While forgiveness has been studied for more than 40 years, the study of resentment is only at an initial stage. Therefore, our task was both a phenomenological study of these psychological phenomena and a test of the new PPS scale for diagnosing resentment and forgiveness and its connections with subjective (psychological) well-being. The results of the phenomenological study indicate that the key point in the transition from resentment to forgiveness is the motivation to maintain a relationship with the offender, the belief in the unintentional nature of the offense, as well as the presence of good intentions and repentance of the offender. The results of the correlation study showed the expected negative relationship between resentment and its components with subjective well-being and a positive relationship with ill-being. However, there was the absence of such a connection between resentment and physical health or depression, while forgiveness had no significant connection with subjective well-being. The latter finding differs from numerous studies and requires additional research using a more diverse methodology.

THREE SEAS: LESSONS FROM SOCIOLOGIST RESEARCH. COOPERATION BETWEEN LATVIAN AND CENTRAL EUROPEAN SCIENTISTS IN THE SOCIOLOGY OF ETHNICITY

Vladislav Volkov — 2024-05-30

Latvia has been a multicultural and multiethnic country throughout its long history. At the moment, the proportion of ethnic Latvians is approximately 62% of its population, and representatives of ethnic minorities - 38%. To a large extent, such ethnic diversity is the result of a long historical stay in other state formations, multi-ethnic empires and states. But during the periods of Latvian national statehood (1918–1940 and since 1991) there was an increase in the share of ethnic Latvians and a decrease in the share of ethnic minorities. For the Latvian state and society, this ethnic diversity has always been in the focus of public debate, political controversy and scientific interest. In this part of the monograph, the authors show the results of the interaction of scientists from Latvia and Central and Eastern Europe on the sociological analysis of the ethnic diversity of Latvia and its individual regions. The choice of this focus of analysis is due to the fact that Latvia, to one degree or another, has historically been included in the geopolitical space of Eastern Europe, which is now increasingly called the Three Seas region. Having a unique historical experience of integrating ethnic diversity, Latvia at the same time absorbs many political, cultural and intellectual practices that express the originality of the countries of the Three Seas region in the ethnic integration of their population. The authors provide data on joint scientific projects, organized scientific conferences. A brief analysis of scientific publications on multi-ethnicity in Latvia, prepared as a result of scientific interaction between Latvian sociologists and representatives of science from Central Europe, is given.

A DIASPORA PUPIL IN A DIALOGUE WITH A LANGUAGE (LANGUAGES) AND CULTURE (CULTURES) IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE LESSONS

Margarita Gavrilina — 2024-05-30

The article is concerned with the issues of development and preservation of ethnic identity of Russian-speaking school children in Latvia studying the Russian language (mother tongue) under the conditions of diaspora. The authors, relying on the results of research activities, are convinced that one of the most important sources of preservation and development of Russian-speaking ethnic identity with the schoolchildren is the inclusion in the content of the school course “Russian language and literature” intracultural and intercultural dialogues.