Economic Development of the European Union in the Relation of Sustainable Development—Taxonomic Analysis

Janina Jędrzejczak-Gas,Anetta Barska,Joanna Wyrwa

doi:10.3390/en14227488

Janina Jędrzejczak-Gas, Anetta Barska + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/en14227488

Copy DOI

Journal: Energies	Publication Date: Nov 9, 2021
Citations: 8	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Zielona Góra

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is a multidimensional assessment of the diversification of economic development in EU countries in the context of the progress in the implementation of the concept of sustainable development in 2014 and 2019. The issues discussed in this article are topical and important, given that the spatial disparity of economic development in the EU has never been so pronounced as it is today. While there is a wealth of studies on economic development in the literature, research on the comprehensive approach to this problem in the relation of sustainable development appears to be rather scarce. The article emphasizes the role of energy in economic growth. Authors used taxonomic measures. They were constructed on the basis of selected methods of multidimensional comparative analysis. By using the Hellwig method and the TOPSIS method, taxonomic measures were constructed, and linear ordering of the EU countries was carried out. In addition, using the so-called threshold method, the clustering of EU countries was carried out. The analysis involved 27 EU countries. The conducted research revealed significant disproportions between the respective EU countries in terms of the level of economic development in the relation of implementing the concept of sustainable development. It seems justified to take action aimed at eliminating the differences between the countries in the analyzed aspect. It is necessary both to intensify efforts at the level of individual Member States and the EU, oriented towards pro-development activities.

Highlights

Sustainable development is the overarching goal of the European Union (EU), leading towards economic growth, EU citizens’ prosperity, and a higher quality of life for present and future generations [1]
Attention is drawn to the need for selective economic development, marked by an increased role of some sectors and a diminished role of others, improving efficiency, coherence of operation, and sufficiency of natural resources, including energy [4]
The research shows that in the EU, there is a different level of economic development in relation to the concept of sustainable development

Summary

Introduction

Sustainable development is the overarching goal of the European Union (EU), leading towards economic growth, EU citizens’ prosperity, and a higher quality of life for present and future generations [1]. Along with the world’s growing population and economic development, the global demand for increasingly scarce energy resources continues to rise, and the global economy is threatened by a growing energy deficit and a significant degradation of the natural environment. Attention is drawn to the need for selective economic development, marked by an increased role of some sectors (such as renewable energies or R&D) and a diminished role of others (such as those relying on conventional energy sources), improving efficiency, coherence of operation, and sufficiency of natural resources, including energy [4]. The effective management of energy carriers in the economy is of pivotal importance for sustainable development, and the significance of energy as a factor limiting sustainable development is bound to increase

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion