Evaluation of European Union Funds’ Investments in regional development and their impact on the quality of life was carried out under the agreement signed by the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania and the service provider UAB “BGI Consulting”. The aim of the evaluation is to optimize investments in regional development by updating the meanings of the quality of life index and its sub-indices.

 

During the evaluation, the estimates of QLI 2007-2016 (including 2017 for individual QLI sub-indexes) indicator values, sub-index and QLI were recalculated, interactive maps were prepared, QLI usage practice and potential were identified, and an updated life quality index based on population's achievements was proposed. Overall, the QLI score for the country improved for the analysed period of 2007-2016 - in 2016 it was 55,4, while in 2007 – 39,8. Index values also increased in each municipality individually, although differences between QLI dynamics were noticeable among individual municipalities.

 

QLI indicators (some individual indicators, as well as whole indicator system) have some significant disadvantages that restrict the widespread use of QLI in planning, monitoring and evaluating public investment in the regions of the country. In order to strengthen the management's efforts to have an instrument related to quality of life monitoring, additional work was carried out during the assessment. It was proposed the system of indicators forms index of quality of life in the regions (hereinafter referred to as the “QLRI”). The QLRI indicator system is based on the availability of indicators at a more detailed level than just national level. It has been determined that at present time the QLRI can be calculated at a regional (county) level without excessive restrictions and additional costs. This does not mean that indicators are ideal at territorial aspect or only ones suitable in terms of their content, but they may be considered as the best alternative currently available. If desired, additional investments for the collection of more suitable indicators at greater territorial particularity can be considered in order to further develop such or a similar system of indicators.

 

QLRI covers the same or similar areas as the QLI. These areas are income, work, health, education, civic empowerment, leisure, security, and the quality of the environment. Each area is described by one to three indicators related to the condition of the area in terms of achievements. The index calculation method helps to avoid distortion of the index values of the individual regions, ensuring that the normalized values of the indicators do not exceed 1, and the input of individual indicators to the final area estimate and the input of the area to the final QLRI estimate would be adequate, that is, for example, the field estimate would not be largely determined only by one indicator.