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The fast development of information and communication technologies (ICT), the increased speed of scientific and technological progress, and the increase of global competition has led to the growing importance of knowledge and technology for economic development. Many countries and regions are seeking to shift their economies to more knowledge-intensive ones. For developing economies, these shifts in the role of knowledge in the economy present both challenges and opportunities. Traditional industrial development strategies that rely on commodity production of manufactures or routine assembly, or services clearly have limits in terms of growth -- unless the ways to leverage knowledge can be found and used to enhance the processes of products and production to add value to customers and end-users. All economies now need to develop resources and capabilities to acquire and apply new knowledge. This paper illustrates the innovative approach that strengthens the capacity of SMEs in transition to knowledge economy as well as cooperation between governmental institutions and SMEs for empowerment of people in regional development context. Continuing professional education, life long learning, and effective use of ICT and Knowledge Management (KM) is an effective instrument for the organisations to meet the global challenges of knowledge economy successfully. Innovative approaches are used to reach the regional development goals. The paper reports on the set approaches designed and piloted in Distance Education study centre of Riga Technical University. The project was funded by the European Structural Found (ESF): project "Continuing Education Programme to Strengthen the Capacity of SMEs by Developing ICT Infrastructure and Knowledge Management" No.: VPD1/ESF/PIAA/05/APK/3.2.4.2./0037/0007 financed by the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper studies the role of small and medium enterprises in the economic growth of the region, and the perspectives of SMEs business development based on the survey of leaders of the SMEs of Latgale region. 443 leaders of small and medium enterprises participated in this survey. The research has practical meaning. The paper displays the research results on business problems and development perspectives in Latgale region, business credit and assets of the Europe Union fund. Small and medium size enterprises have a lot of difficulties, yet one of the most important problems is connected with finances. The use of credits may enhance the improvement of the competitive capacity and enlargement of business. Leaders of the enterprises have mentioned that the possibility to use the European Union structural funds is really great, and it would help render services or enlarge their business. Businessmen need greater support, since credit drawing up is very complicated, and do not advance business start-up and development. The research confirms the hypothesis -- qualitative guarantee system would promote business start-up and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent 30 years the structure and development of the tax systems of European countries has shown the peculiarities of the European Union in comparison with the main international experiences outside the Europe (USA and Japan) and in a wider comparison with the area of the OECD. A tax burden is higher on average in the area of the EU than in the area of the OECD; the European countries rely more on social contributions and less on consumption taxes; a larger part of tax revenues is allocated to the social security sector and a smaller part to the local governments; labour taxes and their contribution to the total tax revenues is higher in Europe than in the OECD. The Paper deals with the structure of the tax systems of individual old European countries, as well as the prospects of development of the personal income tax within the framework of ensuring horizontal and vertical equity. The tax system of any country must ensure the increase of the level of population's welfare, which is shown also by the indices of GDP per capita. Suggestions are given about experiences of which countries should be taken into account to improve the quality of life of the Latvian rural and urban population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]