In this paper, we examined the relationship between income inequality and economic growth from the perspective of each country’s level of development in the European Union, this linkage being reviewed using the median of GDP per capita expressed in the purchasing power standard to split the European Union Member States into two clusters of 14 countries each. Furthermore, we estimated the impact of income inequality on economic growth during the 2010–2018 period at the level of both clusters using the Estimated Generalized Least Squares with a fixed effects method, reinforced by the cross-section weights option. Our results show that income inequality is positively linked to economic growth in the case of developed EU Member States, while for developing EU countries, income inequality is detrimental to growth. This also demonstrates that income gaps may have positive and negative effects on growth depending on the stage of development, this providing important evidence for the need to promote an optimum level of income inequality.

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From a numerical point of view, in the European Union, the population in the urban area has an increasing trend. Their desire to benefit from ever-increasing welfare has led to an increase in industrial production. Under these conditions, the quantities of waste generated also increased. The reuse and recycling of waste contributes to maintaining the quality of the environment. Technologies that allow the efficient use, in the highest possible share of raw materials, have beneficial effects on natural resources. The article presents a comparative analysis of the distribution of municipal waste generation and treatment in the Member States of the European Union. In production processes, the efficiency with which natural resources are used influences the degree to which they can be depleted. Low efficiency leads to an increase in the amount of waste that results. Environmental degradation is also influenced by climate change. From this point of view, the application of efficient waste management is becoming increasingly important. Thus, the article presents an analysis of the quantities of recycled municipal waste. The analysis presented shows that, at European level, compared to 2000, in 2020 the amount of waste generated per capita decreased and the amount of waste treated per capita increased. On the other hand, in terms of total quantities, there is an increase in both the waste generated and the waste treated. The importance of waste management has led to an increase in interest in municipal waste recycling. Thus, at the level of the member states of the European Union, there is an increase in the quantities of recycled waste.