LaSER Latvijas Stratēģijas un Ekonomikas Risinājumu Institūts

LaSER Latvijas Stratēģijas un Ekonomikas Risinājumu Institūts

LaSER engages in policy oriented research. We look for new, innovative and evidence-based policy ideas that will help the development of Latvia.

Research Team

Daunis Auers, PhD, LaSER Chairman of the Board, Professor at the University of Latvia (LU), Jean Monnet Professor and Director of the LU “Social Sciences” PhD programme.

Studied at the London School of Economics (LSE) and University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom. He was a Fulbright Program researcher at the University of California at Berkeley, USA (2005-2006), Fulbright Professor at the University of Washington in Seattle (2023-2024), and a Baltic-American Freedom Foundation researcher at Wayne State University in Detroit, USA (2014). He is a former President of the US-based Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies. At present, he is a member of the National Competitiveness Council formed by the Latvian State President, a member of Riga Stradiņš University’s Advisors’ Convention and an Advisor to the Convention of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He researches and writes about politics, political risks and the economic competitiveness of European countries and the Baltic States.

Uldis Spuriņš, LaSER Research Director.

Studied at Fordham University in the United States, the University of Southern Denmark (Syddansk Universitet) and the University of Latvia. He has worked as an economics lecturer at City University of New York (CUNY) and Fordham University, and as Certus Think Tank’s Lead Researcher. He has written economic studies for various businesses, governmental and non-governmental organisations. He has conducted studies focusing on the ICT, health, pharmaceutical, higher education, manufacturing, construction material production and other sectors of the Latvian economy.

Annemarija Apine, LaSER Researcher.

Holds a BSc in Economic and Social Sciences from Bocconi University (Università Bocconi) in Italy, supplemented by courses from Dartmouth College, USA. Previous experience includes work in management consulting, specialising in government and public sector projects, such as strategy development and research projects.
 

Roberts Kits, LaSER Researcher.

Holds an MA in Diplomacy and BA in Political Science from the University of Latvia, Faculty of Social Sciences. He has also studied at Institute of Political Studies of Lyon (Sciences Po Lyon), Naval Postgraduate School, and Baltic Defence College. His research interesests include defence and security, as well as development of European Defence Technological and Industrial Base.

Tīna Birģele, Research Assistant.

Maija Tiva Hilla, Research Assistant.

Rūdis Freipičs, Research Assistant.

Artis Vilks, Research Assistant.

Research Projects

Baltic cooperation research project

The policy brief will review the experience of cooperation between Nordic countries. It will also outline crucial international challenges that cannot be fully addressed without…

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