This paper examines the link between the transport infrastructure and the economic performance in the EU-28 countries, over the period of time 2000–2014, using panel data methods. Firstly, we aim to provide the theoretical background of the transport infrastructure development, public sector performance and economic growth. The paper’s key point is the detailed look at the components of transport infrastructure, analyzing the implications of the policy-makers based on a production function and in order to test the policy implication, factor analysis is also employed. The results show significant effects from transport infrastructure components even after institutional and other factors are controlled for. From the path analysis results, the study confirm the alternative hypothesis, outlining the unidirectional long-run causality relationship between growth, transport infrastructure and Public Sector Performance. Transport infrastructure status (measured thought index of transport) has significant impact on economic development with coefficient estimate. The public performance indicators influence the way to economic growth. On the one hand, the corruption, the regulatory environment, size shadow economy, infant mortality, income inequality, inflation and unemployment rate negatively affect the economic growth, and on the other hand there is a strong positive relationship between the quality of the judiciary, education achievement, life expectancy and economic growth.

The aim of this paper was to empirically analyze the relationship between public health expenditure and health outcomes among EU developing countries. Using regression analysis and factor analysis, we documented that public health expenditure and health outcomes are in a long-run equilibrium relationship and the status of health expenditure can improve life expectancy and reduce infant mortality. Secondarily, we studied how the status of good governance, health care system performance, and socioeconomic vulnerabilities affect the public health’s outcomes in the selected countries. We found that the effectiveness of health and the way to reduce infant mortality or to improve life quality is directed conditioned by good governance status. Moreover, the consolidation of health care system performance directly improves the quality of life among EU developing countries, which indicates that public policymakers should intervene and provide political and financial support through policy mixes.

The COVID-19 pandemic stressed the importance of understanding the sources of vulnerabilities that can lead to a financial crisis and highlighted the predominant impact on health systems. Firstly, the paper aims to conduct a retrospective analysis of the Romanian health care system, over the period of time 1985–2019, based on our own computed sustainability index for public health. Secondly, using the Gregory-Hansen cointegration method, we provide new evidence on the causal relationship between health expenditure and GDP for Romania over the period of time 1985–2017. Based on the retrospective analysis of the long-run co-movement between health spending and GDP, the study allows one to prospectively examine not only the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care spending, but also to reveal the government’s fiscal position and vulnerabilities. Our results highlight the intergenerational costs related to the policy incoherence roadmap and regulatory fragmentation, stressing the importance of economic system resilience through fiscal diligence and the consolidation of the institutional context.

Following the international financial trend, several countries launched comprehensive and coordinated financial system reform programs to reach green sustainable economy. These reforms have included significant adjustments in financial regulation and supervision policies designed precisely to stimulate the improvement in the performance of green economy. This paper explores the literature regarding the importance of financial regulation and the state of green sustainable economy as a first objective. The second objective is to develop a linear regression model for empirically understanding how the financial regulation can affect green sustainable economy and apply it for 25 European Union countries, over the period of time 2000–2018, covering pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis period. Our findings support the idea that coherent financial regulation framework determines green economy to be growth-friendly and sustainable. The paper can be considered a useful viewpoint in understanding the complex relationship between regulation and green sustainable economy, thus adding to existing literature.

We employed wavelets technology to investigate how and when contagion occurred on 10 Central and Eastern European financial markets in relation to Western European and US financial markets during 2000–2016 and their different reactions on the background of changes in their regulatory framework. We found that most of Central and Eastern European (CEE) capital markets showed contagion in relation to both Western European and US markets between 2005 and 2009, while Slovakian and Estonian markets showed no contagion. However, during 2010–2016, Croatian market showed de-contagion in relation to Western European market, while Bulgarian, Czech, Hungarian, and Polish markets showed de-contagion in relation to US market, increasing their independence.

The expansion of the digital economy motivated researchers to precisely identify its effects and impact on all factors that support sustainable development in nations. This study examines the role of the digital economy in promoting sustainable economic development and interplays with renewable energy development in European countries over the period 1996–2020. The first aim is to provide a theoretical approach by reviewing the most relevant studies on the issue. The second aim is to develop a linear regression model for evaluating the effects of the digital economy on sustainable economic development and the interplays with the environment. The fixed-effect estimation technique for panel data models will be chosen to control for heterogeneity. The results confirm the hypothesis of a positive impact of the digital economy on economic development and environmental performance. This paper can be considered a useful viewpoint in understanding the complex relationship of the digital economy’s contribution to advancing sustainable economic development and promoting environmental performance, thus adding to the existing literature.