Lithuanian economist Adomas Klimantas received the State Independence Award on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, for his comprehensive analysis of the nation’s economic history. The award, traditionally presented in the Seimas’ Hall of the Act of March 11th, commemorates Lithuania’s independence restoration.
Klimantas was recognized for his project, “A History of Poverty and Success: Lithuania’s Economic Path 1900–2025,” which examines the factors influencing Lithuania’s economic development over more than a century. The award highlights the importance of understanding economic history in the context of national identity and future prosperity.
During the award ceremony, Klimantas stated his work aimed to reveal how periods of occupation hindered Lithuania’s economic progress and the long journey the country has taken to achieve its current standard of living. “We are closer to the level of Western and Scandinavian countries than at any point in history,” he said, according to reports from 15min.lt.
He further argued that economic strength is crucial for national defense. “If economic motives to defend this state, to fight for it, have led Lithuanians to fight for 100 years, and if we are now closest to the Western level, the state has an incredibly strong trump card to lead people to prepare to defend this state now,” Klimantas stated.
Virginijus Valentinavičius, chairman of the award committee, noted that Klimantas clearly articulates the connection between economic successes and failures and the overall success of the state. Valentinavičius also emphasized the rigorous methodology used in the research to assess economic efficiency across different periods, as reported by Delfi.
The award comes as Lithuania marks the 36th anniversary of its independence restoration. Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas presented the award to Klimantas during the commemorative events on March 11, 2026, according to Lrytas.
Valentinavičius also commented on Klimantas’s work, stating that it dismantles myths surrounding Lithuania’s economic past, particularly those suggesting a better quality of life during the Soviet era. He credited Klimantas’s research with utilizing new and reliable economic statistics, including comparable GDP per capita data, which were previously unavailable, as detailed in a statement from the Seimas.
Klimantas’s research builds on his academic background, which includes studies at Vilnius Lyceum, ISM University of Management and Economics, Oxford University, and a recently completed doctorate from Oxford, as noted by Etaplius. He is now a lecturer at ISM University of Management, and Economics.
