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The circular economy is a tangible paradigm in response to the unsustainable model of production and consumption of resources in the agri-food system. The circular economy allows for a reduction in the environmental impact through the minimization of food waste or the maximal generation of renewable energy from waste. Despite the relevance, in the extant literature, there are scant indications on how to apply circular business models in agri-food systems. Hence, the paper aims to analyze the circular economy implementation level in the agri-food system in 29 European countries, focusing on specific circular economy strategies. Selected indicators were analyzed to evaluate the level of circular economy implementation in the agri-food system (e.g., production values, energy sharing from renewable sources, and total waste emission) using a Panel data analysis method. The required variables were gained from the global databases within the recent five years (2014–2018). The results reveal an overall lack of circular economy implementation in the agri-food systems among European countries. A set of 12 managerial propositions was suggested to foster the implementation of the circular business models by interacting the recycling, extending, intensifying, and dematerializing strategies with aspects of the production process, waste emission, and renewable energy sharing in the agri-food system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes non-hydroelectric renewable capacity across 27 European countries from 2000 to 2020, using advanced econometric techniques like the Dumitrescu and Hurlin panel Granger non-causality method, Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag and Panel Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag estimations. This investigation reveals complex relationships extending beyond immediate variables. These relationships, rooted in pairwise causalities and broader interactions, underpin observed phenomena. Causality tests show that achieving non-hydroelectric renewable capacity is a long-term endeavor, emphasizing persistent policy approaches for effective energy transition. Three key variables emerge as potent policy drivers: maintaining an environment conducive to economic freedom, fostering financial development, and driving non-hydroelectric renewable patents' research and development. These variables play a pivotal role in capacity expansion. Additionally, the findings of this empirical investigation spotlight the role of political orientations. Leftist governments have lagged in prioritizing energy transition, prompting questions about neglecting environmental concerns and necessitating comprehensive policy reform. In essence, this study offers novel insights into non-hydroelectric renewable energy deployment. By unraveling complex relationships, emphasizing persistent policies, and identifying key variables, this investigation provides a nuanced perspective in line with sustainable energy transition urgency. As global ecological imperatives heighten, our work guides informed policy decisions for a greener future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate 1) whether country categories and type of DLD predict the type of therapy (direct, indirect, and mixed) the child receives, and 2) whether there is an association between country categories, type of therapy, and type of DLD (receptive, expressive, and mixed). European countries were categorised based on Sapir's typology into Continental, AngloSaxon, Nordic and Mediterranean groups. A fifth group i.e. Central European (including Baltic countries) was added. The data to address these questions comes from an online survey, translated and adapted into 30 languages, and is based on reports by 4685 professionals delivering services for children with DLD. This survey was developed by the COST Action IS1406 members and distributed online among practitioners in the year 2017 across European countries. Results indicated that country categories and type of DLD predicted type of therapy. It was suggested that cultural and contextual factors might play a key role in driving clinical practice above and beyond language profiles, patient characteristics and evidence-based practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Socio-economic inequalities are an inherent part of the functioning of societies. These inequalities primarily concern differences in income, material living conditions, education, and health. Despite progress in civilizational development, this issue persists, leading to increased societal discontent, which in turn results in uncontrolled migration, terrorism, and difficulties in ensuring energy security. The rejection of global inequality (both social and consequently political) has become one of the most important reasons for seeking ways to mitigate these unfavorable phenomena. Developmental issues threaten political stability, but above all, they weaken the dynamics of socio-economic development in countries. These considerations do not aspire to comprehensively address the issue of social inequalities worldwide but instead focus on selected aspects analyzing the asymmetry of social development. The aim of this research is to assess the differences in the level of social development in selected European countries in the years 2010 and 2022. Methodology: For the assessment in question, a descriptive method was applied using the Human Development Index (HDI) and Gini coefficient indicators, Ward's method, and the Lorenz curve. These were used to analyze and evaluate the variations in the level of social development in selected European countries, along with determining their ranking positions. The HDI indicator allowed for capturing the distance that separates European countries in terms of social development (long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living). Based on data obtained from HDI, the Gini coefficient enabled the evaluation of income distribution inequality in the studied countries, while cluster analysis helped identify similarities between countries concerning their level of social development. Findings: The research results indicate that despite overall progress in social development, inequalities in the level of social development persist among the 32 European countries analyzed. The countries studied exhibit significant disparities in social development levels, despite the fact that nearly all of them belong to the group of nations with the highest levels of social development worldwide (with only Bulgaria holding the top position among countries with high social development). Widening asymmetries are even observed, as evidenced by Bulgaria's HDI indicator. Research limitations/implications: Due to the still significant inequalities, there is a need to intensify efforts aimed at counteracting them, which could ultimately lead to an improvement in the quality of life. Originality/value: The analysis is crucial for assessing the gap between European countries in terms of social development levels, in the context of global efforts aimed at improving societal well-being and promoting social inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late payment by companies is a quiz for managers and governments. Its occurrence, in all industries, has a negative impact on companies' liquidity and can even lead some of them to bankruptcy – especially the less structured ones. In macroeconomic terms, this situation also has adverse implications for countries' economic growth. Being confronted with these issues, banks provide financial instruments - such as factoring and reverse factoring - which potentially can mitigate these undesirable effects. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze if companies' use of both financial instruments affects their late payment at the country level. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to do so. Therefore, a final sample of 2,245 observations from 28 European countries is considered, being 16 from developed and 12 from emerging ones. The study hypotheses are tested by a logistic regression model. As a result, there is an unexpected positive relationship between both financial instruments and companies' late payments at a country level. It is possible that undercapitalized companies with inadequate credit practices consider late payment as an ordinary source of credit. This study contributes to academic knowledge by analyzing the effect of factoring and reverse factoring on companies' late payments in European countries. The results can also provide insights into firms' financing and supplier management policies. Moreover, countries and regulators can adjust their legislation in order to encourage a better level of governance in their markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has suggested that unconditional convergence no longer exists. Thus, this study examined the income convergence among 11 Central and Eastern European (CEE-11) countries that joined the European Union in/after 2004 and Europe's four largest economies (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy) by using panel data from 1994 to 2019. For this purpose, it employed the beta (β) and sigma (σ) convergence approaches to analyze the dynamics of economic growth. Based on the findings, in 1996, the four largest European economies had a higher capital–labour ratio and GDP growth than CEE-11. However, by 2019, the patterns reversed. As for the regression results, there was strong evidence of unconditional β convergence between 1999 and 2019, at an annual rate of 11%, with the σ convergence and the fixed effect models further supporting income convergence. Moreover, although brief divergence occurred during various financial crises, the overall trend was a significant convergence of CEE-11 with Europe's four largest economies through higher relative GDP growth. This study contributes to the economic growth theory of income convergence across countries and highlights the importance of regional integration in enabling sustainable catch-up growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global turbulence and uncertainty force civil servants and executors to optimise public finance distribution. The COVID-19 pandemic aligned with the necessity of assessing the efficiency of healthcare financing due to its capability in overcoming the negative consequences. The paper analyses the peculiarities of healthcare financing in 34 European countries and points out trends and changes in its structure and dynamics. It also realises cluster analysis to reveal models of healthcare financing and their specific features. Panel data regression analysis was used to assess the efficiency of healthcare financing within each cluster by clarifying the relationship between healthcare expenditures and public health outcome—life expectancy. The distributed lag model was also used to test for time lags between financial inflows in healthcare and its outcome. Empirical results highlight key tips for optimising healthcare financing and creating the benchmark model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to quantify the innovation ecosystem model for allowing the development of smart products at the country level. In this regard, the research used an empirical approach to scale and validate the six dimensions of an innovation ecosystem model among the small and medium-sized enterprises of 21 European countries. The quantitative methods of panel data analysis and Pearson correlation tests between variables of the innovation ecosystem and smart products were considered to examine six research hypotheses. Three dimensions of the innovation ecosystem model, i.e., configuration, change, and capability, have enough effects to accelerate high levels of smart products in the small and medium-sized enterprises of European countries, supporting the external and internal economic partnerships of institutions and companies, cultural changes in functional status, and knowledge-based capabilities of technological skills in each ecosystem. In addition, hierarchical clustering analysis for the classification of the countries showed that some countries, e.g., the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, France, and Norway, could support their powerful smart products for small and medium-sized enterprises at the national level due to their high mean innovation ecosystem values. Overall, the research can describe the managerial implications regarding the knowledge-based capabilities of the technological skills in each ecosystem to be utilized by managers and stakeholders in small and medium-sized enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of digitalization has become increasingly relevant as it plays a critical role in shaping the competitiveness of European countries in a globalized economy. This research paper aims to examine the impact of digitalization on the competitiveness of selected European countries by analysing key indicators that define digital progress and economic performance. Digital transformation has been identified as a fundamental driver of economic growth, innovation, and efficiency across various sectors, emphasizing the importance of digital technologies in shaping contemporary economies. The study utilizes a combination of correlation, canonical, and regression analyses to systematically explore the relationship between digitalization and competitiveness. Data for 10 European countries – Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Luxembourg, Denmark, and Portugal – was collected from the European Commission, World Economic Forum, and official sources from IMD and WIPO over the period from 2017 to 2022. The key indicators analysed include the Digital Economy and Society Index, Global Competitiveness Index, Global Innovation Index, E-Government Index, and R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP. These variables were selected to comprehensively assess the state of digitalization and its correlation with national competitiveness. Findings from the analysis suggest that digitalization has a profound influence on the competitiveness of the countries studied. High DESI and GII scores, indicating advanced digital integration and innovation capacity, are positively correlated with a higher GCI score, reflecting global competitiveness. Moreover, R&D expenditure emerged as a significant factor contributing to digital readiness and economic performance. The disparities in digitalization levels across countries highlight the uneven progress in adopting digital technologies, suggesting a need for policies that enhance digital infrastructure, skills development, and innovation ecosystems. The discussion emphasizes that digitalization drives the transformation of traditional business models, improves efficiency in manufacturing (Industry 4.0), and fosters innovation in services such as fintech, e-commerce, and public administration. However, challenges like the digital skills gap, regulatory barriers, and differences in infrastructure and policy readiness persist, impacting the overall ability of European countries to leverage digital transformation for competitiveness. The paper concludes by advocating for continued investment in digital infrastructure, balanced regulatory frameworks, and skill development initiatives to maximize the benefits of digitalization and enhance the competitive standing of European nations in the digital economy.

Purpose: The paper aims at addressing the following research questions: does institutional quality improve countries' environmental efficiency? And which pillars of institutional quality improve countries' environmental efficiency? Design/methodology/approach: By specifying a directional distance function in the context of stochastic frontier method where GHG emissions are considered as the bad output and the GDP is referred as the desirable one, the work computes the environmental efficiency into the appraisal of a production function for the European countries over three decades. Findings: According to the countries' performance, the findings confirm that high and upper middle-income countries have higher environmental efficiency compared to low middle-income countries. In this environmental context, the role of institutional quality turns out to be really important in improving the environmental efficiency for high income countries. Originality/value: This article attempts to analyze the role of different dimensions of institutional quality in different European countries' performance – in terms of mitigating GHGs (undesirable output) – while trying to raise their economic performance through their GDP (desirable output). Highlights: The paper aims at addressing the following research question: does institutional quality improve countries' environmental efficiency? We adopt a directional distance function in the context of stochastic frontier method, considering 40 European economies over a 30-year time interval. The findings confirm that high and upper middle-income countries have higher environmental efficiency compared to low middle-income countries. The role of institutional quality turns out to be really important in improving the environmental efficiency for high income countries, while the performance decreases for the low middle-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the present research was to assess the role of FinTech progress in the enhancement of entrepreneurial ecosystems at the country level for ten European countries within four-time intervals of 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2021. Thus, the research plan involved an empirical approach that utilized twenty-five and six variables to create the consolidated EE and FinTech indices, respectively. The results revealed significant positive correlations between FinTech (financial and technological dimensions) and EE in all selected countries, exposing the overall effective role of the FinTech index in the EE framework during 2011–2021. This result supported two research hypotheses, revealing that high values of progress in the financial and technological dimensions of FinTech can enhance the EEs in European countries. Additionally, the results revealed the effective role of the FinTech index in the enhancement of EEs through the three enhancing EE elements of "networks", "demand", and "intermediate services", supporting the third research hypothesis. According to our results, the overall status of FinTech in all European countries accelerated from 2011 to 2021. Additionally, the enhancement of the EE in European countries in recent years has transferred from formal and cultural components to technological networks and services. Hence, the technological dimension of FinTech can be defined as a driving power of economic growth in the study area and should be considered in economic programs and revisions of EE structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruits and vegetables form the basis of a nutritional diet for the population. In addition to the basic determinants, such as market prices and consumer income, other factors influence consumer demand. This paper aims to investigate how the age and gender of consumers influence the demand for fruit and vegetables in different European countries. In this paper, the demand for fruit and vegetables is understood through the population's preferences for fruit and vegetable consumption, i.e., the proportion of the population that prefers to consume fruit and vegetables five or more times a day. The paper uses data from Eurostat. Factor, cluster and correlation analyses were performed using the SPSS software. The results of the analyses showed that the gender significantly determines the demand for fruit and vegetables in favour of women. Regarding the effect of age, this determinant was positively correlated with the preference for 5FV consumption in most countries. Potential interventions to promote fruit and vegetable consumption should mainly target men aged 15-19 and 75+ in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Austria, Slovenia and Sweden, men aged 35-44 and 75+ in Croatia, Italy, Poland and Romania and women aged 15-19 and 55+ in Bulgaria and Romania, where their preference for 5FV was the lowest.

This paper examines the relationship between property tax systems and housing affordability in European countries. The research contains not only theoretical section, but also empirical analysis. The statistical data used in research was extracted from Eurostat, OECD, and Tax Foundation. As housing affordability increasingly becomes a pressing issue in many European cities, understanding the role of property taxation in shaping affordability dynamics is crucial for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders. Addressing housing affordability challenges requires a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing housing costs, with property tax systems playing a pivotal role in shaping housing market dynamics. Through a comprehensive literature review, the paper explores existing research findings on the correlation between property taxation and housing affordability. Utilizing data from the Eurostat database, I conduct a comparative analysis of property tax collection statistics across Europe. It focuses on property tax revenues as percentage of total private stock. In assessing housing affordability, two key indicators were extracted from the Eurostat database: the housing cost overburden rate and housing costs as a proportion of disposable income. Housing costs encompass various expenses associated with dwelling occupancy, including utilities, maintenance, taxes, and insurance. The housing cost overburden rate measures the percentage of households where housing expenses exceed 40% of disposable income, providing insight into the burden of housing costs relative to income. Additionally, paper analyses the proportion of disposable income allocated to housing-related expenses, offering further insight into affordability trends. The findings contribute to understanding the impact of property tax systems on housing affordability in European countries. By evaluating the relationship between property taxation and housing costs, the strategies can be developed to mitigate housing affordability challenges and promote sustainable housing markets.

Since 2005, the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) mandatory adoption in the European Union has played a pivotal role to reduce financing costs which has influenced positively economic growth across member states. Thus, this study examines the effect of Cost of Capital on Economic Growth under IFRS mandatory adoption in 17 European countries between 1994 and 2021 using Pooled Mean Group Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PMG-ARDL) and System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM-system) methods. The findings reveal a positive correlation between the Cost of Capital and Economic Growth under IFRS adoption. Specifically, the model estimates indicate that the Cost of Capital contributes to a 0.58% increase in Economic Growth in the PMG-ARDL framework. Moreover, the GMM-system model underscores the significance of IFRS adoption in reducing the Cost of Capital, leading to a 0.52% increase in Economic Growth. These results provide insights into the benefits of adopting international accounting standards and highlight the importance of institutional and financial factors in shaping the economic impact of adopting accounting standards.

Western societies face a major challenge to control their stray dog population due to its uncontrolled propagation and abandonment. Despite the management programmes implemented in many European countries, the reduction of the stray dog population has not been achieved. This is not only related to dogs’ well-being, but also to their coexistence with humans, especially in urban areas. Problem-solving approaches vary in different countries, as there is no common legislation in the European Community dealing with stray dog control. To realise this research study, data from secondary sources, as well as data collected from thirteen European countries were analysed. A comparative overview of policies and measures was examined to show that stray dog population management depends on the policy implicated by each country. In contrast to countries of northern Europe, signifi-cant problems were faced mainly by the countries of southern Europe and the Balkans. The purpose of this paper was to present the legal framework of management for the stray dog population in ac-cordance with what is implemented in different EU countries and to unveil the need for action for a common European Community Directive or Regulation dealing with stray dog control.

Fruits and vegetables form the basis of a nutritional diet for the population. In addition to the basic determinants, such as market prices and consumer income, other factors influence consumer demand. This paper aims to investigate how the age and gender of consumers influence the demand for fruit and vegetables in different European countries. In this paper, the demand for fruit and vegetables is understood through the population's preferences for fruit and vegetable consumption, i.e., the proportion of the population that prefers to consume fruit and vegetables five or more times a day. The paper uses data from Eurostat. Factor, cluster and correlation analyses were performed using the SPSS software. The results of the analyses showed that the gender significantly determines the demand for fruit and vegetables in favour of women. Regarding the effect of age, this determinant was positively correlated with the preference for 5FV consumption in most countries. Potential interventions to promote fruit and vegetable consumption should mainly target men aged 15-19 and 75+ in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Austria, Slovenia and Sweden, men aged 35-44 and 75+ in Croatia, Italy, Poland and Romania and women aged 15-19 and 55+ in Bulgaria and Romania, where their preference for 5FV was the lowest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developed countries have long tried to increase their environmental standards to mitigate the negative effects of economic activities. For this purpose, they impose environmental taxes, energy taxes, and emission limits. In the last decade, a new measurement technique for environmental policy was introduced: the Environmental Policy Stringency Index (EPS index). This index takes values from 0.00 to 6.00, and higher values refer to more stringent environmental policies, whereas lower values suggest lax policies. This study aims to explore the impact of the EPS index on economic activities at the aggregate and sectoral levels for 20 European countries covering the period 1995–2020. For this purpose, this study utilizes the dynamic panel data approach, the two‐step system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation method. The empirical findings show that an increase in the EPS index causes a decline in economic growth at the aggregate level. At the sectoral level, it was found that the industry sector is negatively affected by increases in environmental standards. In addition to the system GMM results, this study employs the Dumitrescu–Hurlin panel non‐causality test to detect causal linkages between variables. The empirical findings show that the EPS index Granger causes economic activity in almost all sectors. The empirical results indicate that environmental regulations should be carefully designed to prevent economic contraction. Policymakers need to develop policies to decrease dependency on fossil fuels in industrial production. Thus, they can subsidize firms to invest in productive and innovative areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many scholars have concentrated on the green economy and emissions, no study has yet to be conducted on the impact of the green economy on carbon emissions in European countries. This study seeks to examine the impact of the green economy on carbon dioxide emissions for European countries under the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis, with the gap in the literature serving as motivation. The annual data for 2012–2020 is analyzed by employing the generalized method of moments (GMM). The study's empirical results demonstrated that green economies play a significant role in lowering carbon emissions and enhancing environmental quality in European countries. These findings are robust to the addition of the interaction effects of economic growth and green economy on the EKC for carbon emission. Economic expansion can result in decreased carbon emissions, displaying the presence of EKC when it interacts with the country's green economy. Thus, the government should enhance investment in green economy projects that can aid in reducing carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAs an increasing number of multilingual children are enrolled in European schools, it is important to gain more insight into teachers’ attitudes towards multilingual approaches in education. The goal of this study is to investigate the attitudes of primary school teachers in Greece, Italy and the Netherlands, three countries that have a highly multilingual student population but differ with respect to the migration context and language policies. Using an online questionnaire, we assessed teachers’ attitudes towards multilingualism in the school environment and their adherence to monolingual ideals. We aimed to compare the three countries and investigate which factors related to the teachers’ background and school characteristics predict teachers’ beliefs. The results suggest that teachers in Greece are significantly more positive towards multilingualism than teachers in Italy and the Netherlands, despite great individual variation. Moreover, for all three countries, we found that having received training on multilingualism had a positive effect on teachers’ attitudes. In the Netherlands, we found that teachers who taught a greater proportion of multilingual students on average showed more positive attitudes towards multilingualism. We discuss the implications of these findings for educational language policy, highlighting the importance of evidence-based training on multilingualism for all teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this investigation was to empirically assess the association between military expenditure and income inequality in the 19 European member states of NATO between 2011 and 2022. To achieve this, the authors carried out multivariate statistical analysis using Kaplan-Meier life tables and survival estimation techniques. The results highlighted a trend in the countries analysed that income inequality tended to decrease when investment in the military increased during the period under consideration. The association manifested itself in the shortest time in the group of countries with the lowest military spending per capita, while emerging in the longer term in the countries with the highest. Furthermore, under high threat of war, the association tends to be shortest in relative terms in countries with the lowest military expenditure per capita. The results also revealed that the association between military spending and income inequality is more pronounced in the smallest countries by population and those with the lowest military expenditure per capita. The authors believe that this investigation will enrich scientific knowledge with new insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the Industrial Revolution, human activity has led to a notable increase in greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, the fact that severely raised the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere and significantly contributed to the global warming. Digital economy was thought to be a key element here. The European Union has made significant commitments in this area and has acknowledged the need for the economy to become less carbon-dependent. Therefore, this paper has explored the role of digitalization on carbon emissions in 27 European countries from 2017 to 2022. Using various statistical methods of panel data, such as the fixed effect model, OLS, and GLS models, using five linear equations, the results have demonstrated that the digital economy (measured by the Digital Economy and Social Index) and its components (connectivity, human capital, digital technology, and digital public services) are statistically significant and negative. Therefore, digitalization, connectivity, human capital, digital technology, and digital public services reduce carbon emissions in the European countries. Our research aims at providing policymakers with a theoretical frame of reference so that they may adopt carbon reduction techniques. Various solutions are proposed, that can be used by governments to minimize the effects of carbon emissions and facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy through digitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroeconomic stability and national security are core measurement indicators of country performance. Historical, economic, social and other prerequisites contribute to the formation of country-specific patterns of these performance indicators resistance to global turbulences such as COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic proved that considering of public health issues in promoting economic prosperity, social welfare and environmental security is crucially important. The aim of the research is to identify country-specific (for 34 European countries) patterns of socio-economic (internal) and public health (external) drivers and inhibitors of ensuring economic growth, macroeconomic stability and national security resistance to global turbulences similar to COVID-19 pandemic. Realization of the research objectives involves the implementation of the following stages: 1) identification of the general and country-specific the most influential internal impetus indicators fostering volatility socio-economic development and national security based on multivariate analysis; 2) formation of general and country-specific matrix of influential determinants of ensuring macroeconomic stability and national security resistance to global turbulences similar to COVID-19 pandemic; 3) formalization general and country-specific external drivers and inhibitors of macroeconomic stability and national security volatility within public health determinants. The study is carried out on a sample of 34 European countries for 2000-2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of digitalization has become increasingly relevant as it plays a critical role in shaping the competitiveness of European countries in a globalized economy. This research paper aims to examine the impact of digitalization on the competitiveness of selected European countries by analysing key indicators that define digital progress and economic performance. Digital transformation has been identified as a fundamental driver of economic growth, innovation, and efficiency across various sectors, emphasizing the importance of digital technologies in shaping contemporary economies. The study utilizes a combination of correlation, canonical, and regression analyses to systematically explore the relationship between digitalization and competitiveness. Data for 10 European countries -- Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Luxembourg, Denmark, and Portugal -- was collected from the European Commission, World Economic Forum, and official sources from IMD and WIPO over the period from 2017 to 2022. The key indicators analysed include the Digital Economy and Society Index, Global Competitiveness Index, Global Innovation Index, E-Government Index, and R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP. These variables were selected to comprehensively assess the state of digitalization and its correlation with national competitiveness. Findings from the analysis suggest that digitalization has a profound influence on the competitiveness of the countries studied. High DESI and GII scores, indicating advanced digital integration and innovation capacity, are positively correlated with a higher GCI score, reflecting global competitiveness. Moreover, R&D expenditure emerged as a significant factor contributing to digital readiness and economic performance. The disparities in digitalization levels across countries highlight the uneven progress in adopting digital technologies, suggesting a need for policies that enhance digital infrastructure, skills development, and innovation ecosystems. The discussion emphasizes that digitalization drives the transformation of traditional business models, improves efficiency in manufacturing (Industry 4.0), and fosters innovation in services such as fintech, e-commerce, and public administration. However, challenges like the digital skills gap, regulatory barriers, and differences in infrastructure and policy readiness persist, impacting the overall ability of European countries to leverage digital transformation for competitiveness. The paper concludes by advocating for continued investment in digital infrastructure, balanced regulatory frameworks, and skill development initiatives to maximize the benefits of digitalization and enhance the competitive standing of European nations in the digital economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the influences of digital public services on the ease of setting up a new business in 28 European countries during the period of 2012–2019. The development of digital public services is reflected in business mobility and key enablers. The digitalization-entrepreneurship nexus is analyzed by using the panel corrected standard error (PCSE) model, while we employ the dynamic fixed effects estimator (DFE) used in the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to measure the short-run and long-run effects. Our results indicate that the online delivery of government services positively affects the density of entrepreneurship in a country. We find robust results utilizing various econometric techniques and adding further explanatory variables. However, the positive effects of offering public services online are only found in the long run. Using digital public services benefits the entrepreneurial sectors by reducing the time and costs required to start a new business. Notably, digital transformation in the public sector acts as a shield to protect enterprises by dampening the detrimental effects of uncertainty on entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Growing consumer interest in caring for the environment has motivated the development of multiple studies focused on discovering this variable's impact on purchasing behaviour. However, a major gap still exists between attitude and pro-environmental behaviour caused by the need for greater environmental awareness, among other things. Therefore, knowing the environmental issues that worry consumers of agrifood products is important. This work digs deeper into this issue by analysing these environmental concerns and examining differences between countries with different levels of environmental sensitivity. CAWI methodology has been used to conduct an online survey in four countries (Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Denmark), with 3200 valid responses analysed using qualitative and quantitative techniques. The obtained results highlight the existence of 11 major environmental dimensions or issues for consumers of agri-food products. In addition, a correspondence analysis identifies two key factors, the first focused on a range of environmental problems of a more general nature and the second with greater interest focused on concern for biodiversity conservation. This study has implications for both the agri-food sector and European agricultural policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates whether and how much family migration policies have influenced patterns of family migration in European states. Family migration has been the largest category of entry in many Western countries in recent decades, and it has been the subject of increasing contestation in political debates. While research on family migration policies has advanced in recent years, no comprehensive cross-country comparisons have been done of the impact of different policies on the size and composition of family migrant inflows. This study addresses this gap by analysing the connection between admission policies and rates of family migration in 31 European states during the 2008 to 2019 period. Combining data from Eurostat and the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX), this study uses a time-series regression analysis to assess the effects of admission policies on different types of family related immigration. While restrictive admission policies have led to falling overall levels of family migration, the analysis here reveals stratifying implications, whereby the effect has been greater where the sponsor is a non-EU citizen than where he/she is an EU citizen. By providing evidence on the differential impacts of admission policies on family related immigration, this study contributes new insights on the effects of restrictive migration policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we conduct a detailed examination of the determinants of attitudes to financial risk among retail investors in six European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom). We find that respondents from the United Kingdom and Belgium are the most risk tolerant while those from Spain are the least. We observe remarkable similarities in the distributions of risk tolerance across countries despite cultural differences and considerable variations in the extent to which risky investing is undertaken as a routine part of financial planning. We further show that country effects in the cross‐sectional variation of attitude to risk scores are swamped by the impacts of gender, salary and wealth, while financial knowledge and prior investment experience are much more important still. Our results have implications for regulators and those who wish to encourage European investors to consider going beyond bank savings and guaranteed products to more prevalent stock market investing in an era of negative real interest rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates whether the effect of vertical and horizontal knowledge sources affect technological innovation for a sample of firms in 10 European countries. The empirical analysis is based on a unique dataset extracted from the Community Innovation Survey for the period 2002 to 2012. Results, using a pseudo-panel approach at country-industry level, reveal that vertical knowledge from suppliers strongly affects both product and process innovation, while knowledge flows from clients influence in particular product innovation. Finally, horizontal knowledge flows from competitors appear to have an effect on process innovation. These findings are validated with an instrumental variable approach using Lewbel's technique to internally generate reliable instruments, when external ones are not suitable. Overall, results seem to suggest the need for ad-hoc policies to foster knowledge flows among firms in different phases of the production process to boost their innovative capacity both for products and processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted healthcare systems and economies worldwide, leading to the implementation of travel restrictions and social measures. Efforts such as vaccination campaigns, testing, and surveillance have played a crucial role in containing the spread of the virus and safeguarding public health. There needs to be more research exploring the transmission dynamics of COVID-19, particularly within European nations. Therefore, the primary objective of this research was to examine the spread patterns of COVID-19 across various European countries. Doing so makes it possible to implement preventive measures, allocate resources, and optimize treatment strategies based on projected case and mortality rates. For this purpose, a hybrid prediction model combining CNN and LSTM models was developed. The performance of this hybrid model was compared against several other models, including CNN, k-NN, LR, LSTM, MLP, RF, SVM, and XGBoost. The empirical findings revealed that the CNN-LSTM hybrid model exhibited superior performance compared to alternative models in effectively predicting the transmission of COVID-19 within European nations. Furthermore, examining the peak of case and death dates provided insights into the dynamics of COVID-19 transmission among European countries. Chord diagrams were drawn to analyze the inter-country transmission patterns of COVID-19 over 5-day and 14-day intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the first empirical study of the nonlinear effects of digital business on global value chains (GVC), we provide insight into the nonlinear effects of digital business on the global value chain (GVC) values. We employ four indicators, including the value of online selling, sales through E-commerce, and customer relationship management (CRM) usage, to capture the prevalence of digital business in the economy. By testing a sample of 25 European countries that have been analyzed using various econometric techniques over the period 2012–2019, our estimation results confirm that GVC values are a U-shaped function of digitalization. That is, an increase in digitalization pervasiveness initially induces more significant risks and uncertainties, hindering European countries from getting involved in or scale-up within the GVC. However, a rise in digitalization pervasiveness goes beyond a specific threshold, which facilitates GVC activities as more opportunities are created. Furthermore, our findings suggest that digital business contributes significantly to reducing the adverse influences of global uncertainty on the GVC values, while the marginal effects of digital business on GVC values become more pronounced in countries with the most advanced institutional structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: In most countries of the world with a post-industrial type of economy, in particular in Ukraine, there is a deep transformation of the labor market and employment in general. The development of information technology was the impetus for the emergence of a remote form of employment. However, this form of work did not become widespread until almost the end of 2019 and early 2020. The rapid spread of the pandemic and restrictions imposed by states forced the shutdown of many economic sectors and the closure of schools, kindergartens, and universities. Such actions have increased the number of unemployed and reduced work. Of course, such measures do not contribute to further economic development, so the alternative was the transition to a remote form of employment in the workplace, where it was possible to do so. In connection with the outbreak of COVID-19, the world community almost overnight was forced to switch to a remote form of work in order to save their jobs. According to recent studies, in the pre-pandemic period, the share of employees who performed their work remotely reached 31 percent, whereas now this figure has increased to 88 percent. The crisis that has engulfed the whole world has also affected Ukraine: job cuts, layoffs, the closure of a large number of enterprises, and, as a result, the spread of unemployment. The main purpose of our research is to analyze the norms of the existing legislation of Ukraine regulating relations in the labor sphere, in particular those related to the work of remote workers, comparison of the regulatory framework of Ukraine and European countries, as well as our vision of further development of legislation in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western societies face a major challenge to control their stray dog population due to its uncontrolled propagation and abandonment. Despite the management programmes implemented in many European countries, the reduction of the stray dog population has not been achieved. This is not only related to dogs' well-being, but also to their coexistence with humans, especially in urban areas. Problemsolving approaches vary in different countries, as there is no common legislation in the European Community dealing with stray dog control. To realise this research study, data from secondary sources, as well as data collected from thirteen European countries were analysed. A comparative overview of policies and measures was examined to show that stray dog population management depends on the policy implicated by each country. In contrast to countries of northern Europe, significant problems were faced mainly by the countries of southern Europe and the Balkans. The purpose of this paper was to present the legal framework of management for the stray dog population in accordance with what is implemented in different EU countries and to unveil the need for action for a common European Community Directive or Regulation dealing with stray dog control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of digital business on the ease of establishing new companies in 28 European countries from 2011 to 2019. A digital business can be described in terms of e-commerce, specifically e-commerce sales. Additionally, it encompasses e-business, with a focus on customer relationship management (CRM) usage. The study analyzes the digitalization-entrepreneurship nexus using the panel-corrected standard error (PCSE) model. Additionally, we employ the dynamic fixed-effects estimator (DFE) within the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to measure both short-run and long-run effects. Our findings suggest that digital business positively influences the density of entrepreneurship in a country. Our results remain robust when combining various econometric techniques with additional explanatory variables. However, the positive effects of digital business on the entrepreneurial sector become evident only in the long run. The use of digital business benefits the entrepreneurial sector by reducing the amount of time and money required to establish a new business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to analyze the determinants of high-tech exports in the 40 European countries sample from 2011-2021, while considering spatial spillover. To achieve this, a spatial panel data model was employed. The results indicate a positive impact of per capita GDP, per capita patent applications, and trade openness on high-tech exports. However, there is no significant impact of R&D expenditures, foreign direct investment, and economic freedom on high-tech exports. The results showed a differentiation when considering spatial effects. The analysis model revealed the presence of both spatial lag and spatial error. Additionally, the results suggest that high-tech exports from surrounding countries have a positive impact on the high-tech exports of the country. Based on these findings, it is recommended that policymakers work towards eliminating trade barriers between countries, ameliorating income and promoting the commercialization of knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the efforts of the United Nations, environmental sustainability is becoming the subject of countries. Policymakers and researchers closely follow the environmental dimensions of Sustainable Development Goals. This study offers a new perspective for the European Union economies by directly targeting SDG 9 and considers environmental sustainability policies in selecting variables. To be more precise, this study probes the effects of economic growth, trade openness, renewable energy, human capital, and competitive industrial performance on the load capacity factor for EU countries over the period of 1995–2018. This study uses the CUP‐FM and CUP‐BC approaches due to cross‐sectional dependence and heterogeneity. In addition, the study does not ignore possible structural breaks. As a result of the empirical analysis, while economic growth, trade openness, and competitiveness worsen environmental quality, renewable energy and human capital contribute to environmental sustainability. Based on the panel data results, EU economies still rely on fossil fuels to maintain competitiveness in the industry. The EU, which has 2030 and 2050 targets, can eliminate the disadvantages of competitiveness by expanding the environmental quality‐enhancing feature of renewable energy and human capital. Moreover, this study provides SDG‐oriented policy recommendations for EU countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late payment by companies is a quiz for managers and governments. Its occurrence, in all industries, has a negative impact on companies' liquidity and can even lead some of them to bankruptcy – especially the less structured ones. In macroeconomic terms, this situation also has adverse implications for countries' economic growth. Being confronted with these issues, banks provide financial instruments - such as factoring and reverse factoring - which potentially can mitigate these undesirable effects. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze if companies' use of both financial instruments affects their late payment at the country level. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to do so. Therefore, a final sample of 2,245 observations from 28 European countries is considered, being 16 from developed and 12 from emerging ones. The study hypotheses are tested by a logistic regression model. As a result, there is an unexpected positive relationship between both financial instruments and companies' late payments at a country level. It is possible that undercapitalized companies with inadequate credit practices consider late payment as an ordinary source of credit. This study contributes to academic knowledge by analyzing the effect of factoring and reverse factoring on companies' late payments in European countries. The results can also provide insights into firms' financing and supplier management policies. Moreover, countries and regulators can adjust their legislation in order to encourage a better level of governance in their markets.

Europe has recently experienced an energy crisis that began with the war between Russia and Ukraine and continued with reciprocal sanctions and power cuts, increasing geopolitical tensions and risks. In such an environment, European countries must decide how to replace energy imports from Russia. As the best option may be to rely on clean energy, this study explores how geopolitical risk (GPR) affects clean electricity generation (i.e., hydro, solar, wind, & nuclear) in five European countries (i.e., Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Romania, and Switzerland), which have a high dependency on Russia. The study therefore uses daily data between January 2, 2019 and January 29, 2024 and applies a set of nonlinear methods (i.e., wavelet coherence, quantile-on-quantile regression, Granger causality in quantiles, and quantile regression). The results show that (i) there is a strong dependence of GPR on renewable and nuclear electricity generation over different times, frequencies, and countries; (ii) GPR stimulates hydro electricity generation at higher quantiles across countries except the Czechia; (iii) GPR increases solar electricity generation at higher quantiles in all countries except the Czechia and Switzerland; (iv) GPR mainly stimulates wind electricity generation at higher quantiles, except for Bulgaria and Switzerland; (v) GPR is almost inefficient in nuclear electricity generation. Overall, the study clearly shows the supportive effect of the GPR in promoting renewables, while this is not the case for nuclear energy. Therefore, European countries can rely on renewables as the best alternative against energy blackouts in the short term, considering the varying effect based on time, frequency, quantile, country, and clean energy sources.

This study aimed to investigate the association between post-materialist values and subjective well-being in European countries, while examining the complex relationships between the diffusion of post-materialist values, economic development, and democratization. This study analyzed data from the European Values Study and World Values Survey between 1981 and 2022 using finite mixture models and fixed-effects models. The results show that the positive association between diffusing post-materialist values and changes in average life satisfaction was mediated by social changes, including economic development and democratization. However, a negative association between economic development and democratization emerged; although both were positively associated with changes in national life satisfaction, their associations could be offset by each other. This implies that while social change is intertwined with social values and subjective well-being, the relationships between them are highly intricate.

This paper presents an empirical investigation on the determinants of workplace accidents across Europe and focuses on the extent to which production-system characteristics (employment sectoral risk, size of firms, temporary contracts), business cycle and socio-economic factors (GDP, level of investments, unemployment, education) and other territorial controls (crime index) might account for cross-country heterogeneity. We use Eurostat data, and our panel is composed of 27 European countries over the period 2010–2018. Implementing different functional forms and estimation methodologies (pooled OLS, panel fixed and random effects models, system-GMM and semiparametric fixed effects model), we find robust evidence that productive-system structural characteristics, business cycle controls and the other territorial variables are effective in explaining European cross-country heterogeneity. Moreover, we find evidence of a nonlinear relationship between GDP and occupational accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since Converse's paper, opinion constraint has been defined as the degree to which voters hold ideologically consistent opinions across different issues. Yet, scholars have found that opinions departing from the liberal/conservative categories constitute alternative ways of organizing political preferences. This suggests a methodological dilemma: how can we assess the consistency of opinions based on empirical, rather than theoretically predefined, criteria? This article proposes measuring constraint as the extent to which citizens' policy preferences resemble those of their most preferred political parties (a top-down approach). To do so, it relies on data from the 2019 European Election Studies and the 2019 Chapel Hill Expert Survey. Analyses show that a top-down measure of opinion constraint correlates weakly with pre-existing measures of this concept (discriminant validation). Findings also suggest that well-established hypotheses about the predictors and effects of constraint are confirmed when using the top-down measure (nomological validation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although leisure constraints that individuals have to cope with can negatively affect their social inclusion and satisfaction with life, little research has addressed the link between these variables. Therefore, the current paper examined the moderator role of leisure constraints on the relationship between satisfaction with life and leisure constraints among adults living in five different European countries. The respondents were 1,382 women and 877 men adults. The findings of analysis revealed that all factors used in the study accounted for 15% of the variance in satisfaction with life and social inclusion had a significant and positive impact on satisfaction with life. As a result, it can be said that leisure constraints had a moderating effect on the relationship between satisfaction with life and social inclusion. The present research study recommends that social inclusion should be encouraged through decreasing to leisure constraints to increase the life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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