133 RESEARCH FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT 2015, VOLUME 2 SOCIAL DIMENSION OF THE MEASUREMENT FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Līga Rasnača, Baiba Bela University of Latvia liga.rasnaca@lu.lv, baiba.bela@lu.lv Abstract The article addresses the problem of social dimension measurement of for regional development. Authors’ discus approaches of deinition of social dimension. There is some discord how social dimension could be understood in more broader or narrowed sense and how it is characterized in international and national social policy documents. Authors focus attention on contiguity of social dimension and social security. The measurement of social dimension demands multidimensional approach. The authors use theoretical analysis and document analysis, as well as analysis of statistical data on key elements of social dimension of regional development (differences of employment rate; GINI coeficient, and the number of people at risk-of-poverty threshold). The main conclusions are that social dimension is more or less covered in development planning documents, but the progress indicators are inadequate. Especially disparities in social dimension of regional development are formally addressed and closer analysis of key indicators shows necessity to elaborate both – policy instruments as well as policy progress measurement. Key words: social dimension, social security, regional development, social policy. Introduction Uneven regional development and high income inequality are recognized as serious threats to successful development in Latvia (Saeima, 2010; VARAM, 2013). The economic disparities result in sharp differences in working and living conditions. There are also considerable differences in provision of social security between regions and municipalities (National Social Report of Latvia, 2014). Are these problems addressed in the policy documents? Are adequate progress indicators developed, especially for monitoring of social dimension of regional development? The aims of the article are: 1) to discuss the deinition of the social dimension and to analyze the coverage of social dimension in the policy documents of development planning; 2) to illustrate social security problems by analysis of statistics in order to substantiate the necessity of regular monitoring of social dimension indicators at regional level. Latvia has elaborated the long-term development planning document “Sustainable Development Strategy of Latvia until 2030 (Latvia 2030)” and the medium-term planning document “National Development Plan 2014-2020 (NDP 2020)”. NDP 2020 is closely related to Latvia 2030 and the National Reform Programme for the Implementation of the EU 2020 Strategy. Because one of Latvia’s strategic goals is to join the OECD, the authors of this article will pay particular attention to the measures of social dimension covered by mentioned documents in the context of strategic goals for social security and social sustainability of OECD. Social security plays a key role in provision of well-being and as a base for sustainable growth and development. The social dimension contains elements directly and indirectly connected with social security provision. The research is done as a part of the project “Elaboration of innovative diagnostic instruments for regional development”, funded by the European Social Fund (No 2013/0057/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/13/APIA/ VIAA/065), where the task of authors was to develop the social security index as innovative instrument to measure the coverage of social security provision at different territorial units (national, regional, local). Materials and Methods Authors apply theoretical analysis and document analysis. The documents analysed are policy documents of the UN, EU, OECD, ILO and Latvia. The aim is to stress importance of social dimension of development and simultaneously to ind contemporary understanding of key elements for social dimension of regional development. Descriptive statistics are used in order to throw light on the regional disparities within key elements of social dimension of regional development. However, during the research the broader range of indicators were analysed in order to develop complex and holistic approach to social dimension of sustainable development, the limitations of article allow to pay attention only to key elements. Even analysis of few key indicators show considerable regional differences and allows substantiate the importance of regular measurements for monitoring and development of better targeted and more eficient social policy. Results and Discussion However, the central concept of the article is that of social dimension of development, it is very closely linked to more concrete concept of social security. Social security is a key to secure social dimension of sustainable development. However, there is no real consensus even on the social security concept, as it is ECONOMICS