Application of multivariate statistical analysis to assess the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 8 in European Union countries

Abstract

Sustainable development should ensure a fair and balanced natural, social and economic environment. Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) – decent work and economic growth – is of the greatest economic importance. The purpose of the study is to assess the implementation of SDG 8 in EU member states. The analysis covered the years 2002–2021 with a particular focus on two crises periods: the financial crisis of 2007–2009 and the COVID-19 pandemic in the years 2020–2021. The study uses Eurostat data and multivariate statistical analysis methods, i.e. cluster analysis – the k-means method and linear ordering – the TOPSIS method. Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden are the countries where the fulfilment of SDG 8 was the greatest, while the lowest was observed in Greece, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Spain. The study also shows that the countries which joined the EU in 2004 generally demonstrated a much lower degree of SDG 8 implementation compared to the well-developed Western Europe. The influence of the crisis periods was more visible in the results of the cluster analysis than in the rankings. The novelty of the research involves the application of multivariate statistical analysis methods to assess the overall situation of the studied countries in terms of their implementation of SDG 8 while taking into account both crisis periods.