Blokķēdes tehnoloģiju ieviešanas iespējas Latvijas tautsaimniecībā Baltijas valstu reģiona kontekstā = Opportunities for blockchain technology adoption in the economy of Latvia in the context of Baltic States region

The author of the thesis: MBA, MProf Natalija Kostrikova. The title of the thesis: Opportunities for blockchain technology adoption in the economy of Latvia in the context of Baltic States region. The hypothesis of the thesis: It is possible to facilitate digitalisation of the economy of Latvia through blockchain technology adoption. The aim of the thesis: to develop recommendations for facilitating blockchain technology adoption in the economy of Latvia based on investigation of global blockchain technology adoption factors and scenarios with a focus on Baltic States region analysis. To achieve the aim, the following tasks are set: 1. to outline a framework for blockchain technology adoption assessment through the lenses of innovation theories, technology adoption models and the concept of knowledge economy; 2. to analyse blockchain related policies, public opinions and regulatory developments in the European Union and Baltic States; 3. to analyse blockchain technology adoption trends worldwide and in the Baltic States; 4. to develop and analyse scenarios for blockchain technology adoption in the economy of Latvia. To achieve the aim of the thesis, the research is structured in four chapters with sub–sections. The first chapter outlines the theoretical research of blockchain technology, knowledge economy, innovation theories and aspects of innovation diffusion process and underlying innovation adoption factors. As a result, innovation adoption and technology acceptance models are summarized. The second chapter studies blockchain related policies and regulatory developments – blockchain technology innovation planning documents and relevant regulatory enactments of the European Union and Latvia. In the third chapter, blockchain technology innovation and adoption worldwide and in Baltic States is analysed in various areas of applications and geographical tendencies and success factors are investigated. In the fourth chapter, blockchain technology adoption factors and scenarios are determined based on international experience and international expert survey involving 82 respondents from 30 countries; blockchain adoption factors and scenarios in the economy of Latvia are assessed through AHP analysis based on expert opinions of seven renowned national experts; and recommendations for facilitating blockchain technology adoption in Latvia are developed. As a result of the thesis, a blockchain technology adoption assessment matrix and recommendations for facilitating blockchain technology adoption in the economy of Latvia have been developed with the aim of strengthening the global competitiveness of the economy of Latvia. At the end of the thesis the main conclusions, research results and recommendations for facilitating blockchain technology adoption in the economy of Latvia are formulated. The volume of the thesis for acquiring the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Economics and Business (Ph.D.) is 184 pages. The work contains 15 tables, 50 figures, 12 appendices, 323 information sources.