Multidimensional Assessment of the Social Development of EU Countries in the Context of Implementing the Concept of Sustainable Development

Abstract

Measuring and monitoring the implementation of the concept of sustainable development is an important aspect of the assessment of the functioning of EU countries. One of the pivots of sustainable development is social order, although the literature analysis indicated that multidimensional empirical research in this area is scarce. The main goal of this article was to present the diversity of indicators characterizing social development in EU Member States in the context of progress made by each of them in implementing the concept of sustainable development between 2014 and 2018. The purpose of this article was also to compare Poland with the other EU countries in the years 2014 and 2018. The research procedure consisted of two stages. The first stage was to analyse and assess the regional differentiation of the values of variables explaining social development in the EU in the context of implementing the concept of sustainable development. The second stage envisaged a multidimensional assessment of the diversity of the thematic areas identified in the first stage, as well as a characterization of social development in the EU in the context of implementing the concept of sustainable development. Based on the obtained results, a conclusion could be drawn that many countries are witnessing positive trends which bring them closer to the successful implementation of the sustainable development paradigm—one of the principal priorities of the Europe 2020 strategy, a long-term socio-economic program of the EU. The multidimensional analysis also showed that the level of social development in the context of sustainable development differs across the EU. Particularly notable differences among EU countries could be observed for the variables denoting labour market and health, with demography being the least diversified of all areas. In Poland, the indicators regarding poverty and social exclusion improved significantly as a result of the implementation of numerous social programs. In addition to that, a positive change in education indicators was also reported in Poland. This favourable trend indicates that some of the goals set out in the Europe 2020 strategy have already been met by Poland while others are becoming increasingly attainable.

Socio-economic Dimension of the Sustainable Development of Polish Provinces

“…The evaluation of the changes in the level of socio-economic development in Poland was carried out in six thematic areas and within two time-ranges -2019 and 2020. Monitoring the implementation of directions of activities in provinces operating in accordance with the principle of sustainable development and taking into account social, economic and environmental cohesion is carried out with the use of a properly selected set of individual indicators (Roszkowska, Filipowicz-Chomko, 2016;Barska, Jędrzejczak-Gas, Wyrwa, Kononowicz, 2020, Jędrzejczak-Gas, Barska, Wyrwa, 2021. The suggested indicators of monitoring the socio-economic development enable the creation of the statistical image of Poland and her provinces from the perspective of the implementation of the new paradigm of sustainable development.…”

Methodological and Practical Guidelines for the Development of Environmental Entrepreneurship Within the Framework of Public-Private Partnership

“…Much of the analysed scientific literature is devoted to the consideration of environmental entrepreneurship from the standpoint of sustainable development. At the same time, each of the authors pays attention to different aspects of this problem, such as the application of mechanisms for the development of environmental entrepreneurship (Kucher et al, 2021), adherence to the principles of sustainable development in the operation of environmental enterprises (Mensah, 2019;Mitcham, 1995;Weber et al, 2021;Barska et al, 2020), building business models and innovations in the field of environmental entrepreneurship (Mensah, 2019), characteristics of the structure and stages of development of environmental entrepreneurship in the context of sustainable development (Kniaz, 2015).…”

Effect of Structural Funds on Housing Market Sustainability Development—Correlation, Regression and Wavelet Coherence Analysis

“…Currently, research is often conducted in the field of sustainable production, and reports in this area include a study by Bedrunka (2020). Barska et al (2020) evaluate the progress in the implementation of the concept of sustainable development in the social aspect of the EU in the years 2014-2018, with a particular emphasis on Poland. Širá et al (2020) put forward the thesis that the increased emphasis on the factors of the knowledge-based economy increases the country's competitiveness, which contributes to its sustainable development.…”