Measuring Sustainability in Economic Output in the Member States that Joined the European Union in 2004

Bibliographic Data

ID8022362
AuthorsSzilárd Malatyinszki (0000-0002-1624-4902), Botond Géza Kálmán (0000-0001-8031-8016)
Year2025
Volume9
Pages100724-100724
Publication date2025-05-24
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSustainable Futures (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2666-1888
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100724
OpenAlexW4410708229
LanguageEN
References cited19

The 2004 enlargement of the European Union (EU) marked a significant shift, integrating ten new member states, most of which had experienced economic lag due to their historical background. This study assesses the progress of these countries in closing the gap with older EU members from 2011 to 2021, focusing on resource productivity as a key indicator of sustainable economic growth. Using panel regression and structural equation modeling, the analysis highlights persistent differences between the EU-27 and EU-10. Findings suggest that in EU-27 countries, resource productivity is driven primarily by circular economy measures, waste recycling, and renewable energy utilization. In contrast, EU-10 countries, still undergoing economic transformation, rely more on innovation, human capital development, and research and development (R&D) investments to enhance efficiency. Notably, while renewable energy positively impacts resource productivity in EU-27, it shows a paradoxical negative effect in EU-10, likely due to transitional inefficiencies. Fixed effects models confirm that institutional, political, and infrastructural differences shape resource productivity. The results underscore that while the EU-10 has significantly improved, gaps remain in areas such as higher education investment and circular material use. Importantly, research and development emerge as critical drivers of efficiency, especially in EU-10. The study concludes that while economic modernization fosters convergence, sustainability strategies must be tailored to regional contexts. Strengthening innovation systems and optimizing material efficiency are essential for long-term resource productivity gains

Economics · European union · International trade · Member states · Sustainability · Climate Change Policy and Economics · Sustainable Development and Environmental Management · Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access