The Bank of Latvia is organising a Competition for Student Scientific Research Papers

The purpose of the competition: to promote the research and analysis of Latvia's macroeconomic issues and to facilitate the advancement of students' scientific thinking.

The competition is open to: citizens and residents of the Republic of Latvia as well as foreigners who at the time of the competition are registered as students of institutions of higher education accredited by the Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science; citizens and residents of the Republic of Latvia who at the time of the competition are registered as students of institutions of higher education accredited as such according to the laws and regulations of foreign countries.

Eligible topics: a wide range of macroeconomic topics to be discussed in the economic context of Latvia or the Baltic States: impact of investment on improvement of public welfare in Latvia, impact of global prices on inflation fluctuations in the Baltic States, assessment of competitiveness of the economy, assessment of structural unemployment in Latvia, impact of the European Union structural funds on the economy, labour migration, its driving factors and impact on the economy etc.

Six prizes will be awarded to the competition winners, the prize for the first-place winner being 1 200 lats.

Competition papers shall be submitted: to the Bank of Latvia in both paper and electronic form between 14 May and 25 May 2012.

Detailed requirements for the papers and a full list of suggested topics are featured in the Regulation for the Competition.

The results of the competition will be published on 12 June 2012 on the Bank of Latvia's websites at www.bank.lv and www.makroekonomika.lv.

The winners will be invited to a discussion which will be presented at www.makroekonomika.lv.