One can find a value-added indicator mentioned in the economic or statistical literature very often. The value-added indicator is used to evaluate the labour productivity level. Labour productivity is the first one in the list of labour development indicators, and is defined as a ratio of gross value added per one working hour of a person employed. The level of labour productivity, measured by value added, may be very distinct in different fields of economic activity. The fact is that value added plays a significant role not only in the economy of each enterprise, but also in the country’s economics. Consequently, there is a demand for considering the conception, essence and importance of the labour productivity as an indicator describing both the development of economics of the whole country and the efficiency of separate economic fields.
This paper analyses factors contributing to the growth of value added in the industry of food and beverages, as well as some eco-nomic structural changes in this sector. Comparison of the given economic and industrial indices allows a presumption that the structure of the food production industry by the number of employees is more advanced in Lithuania than in other EU countries. However, the substantially lower labour productivity reduces the efficiency of performance of individual sectors along with the investment flow into a sector. The basis for the growth of the country’s economics is enterprises oriented towards employment of latest scientific knowledge and implementing innovative projects. Innovative processes and advanced technologies are essential for withstanding an increasing competitiveness and penetrating successfully into new markets. Therefore, it is important to strengthen relations among business, science and government institutions, to render small enterprises help in evaluating their innovative potential and applying for EU funds in order to implement their progressive projects.
Key words: value-added, economic value added, labour productivity, efficiency, investment, innovation.
Paunksnienė, J.; Stalgienė, A. Pridėtinės vertės augimą sąlygojantys veiksniai maisto ir gėrimų pramonėje // Žemės ūkio mokslai, 2009. T. 16. Nr. 1-2. p. 76-86, ISSN 1392-0200 (EBSCO, Central & Eastern European Academic Source, CAB Abstracts).
