In this paper, we conduct a bibliometric analysis of the global research related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations sustainability agenda. Our analysis builds upon the Elsevier Scopus-indexed scientific outputs since all those are classified for SDG relationships at indexing. We follow the recently published research protocol and use the Elsevier Scopus engine and the SciVal bibliometric reporting and benchmarking tool to analyze the productivity and impact of the global SDG-related research in the 2017–2022 period. We report on the most influential authors and publication outlets for SDG-related research, focusing on the collaboration patterns and their relationship to research productivity and impact. We also use keyword analysis and science mapping to describe the intellectual structure of the SDG research and its implications, which could be interpreted in terms of the “bandwagon effect”.

This paper examines the influence of institutional quality, stakeholder networks, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and policies on the adoption of circular economy practices by SMEs in twelve Central–Eastern European and Western Balkan countries. Using the Flash Eurobarometer 549 data, we first cluster countries by the level of circular economy adoption and find that they are highly interdependent. We apply cross-validated LASSO regression to identify two circular economy practices with the highest leverage (minimizing waste and saving materials). We also show that EU membership benefits appear when national administrations can effectively absorb and deploy EU incentives, helping firms transition from basic resource efficiency towards more advanced circular strategies. A two-pillar policy agenda is recommended: building targeted capability bundles inside firms (green-skills training and support for eco-design and production) and strengthening institutions and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Higher education (HE) is a significant factor in a country’s economic prosperity and plays a vital role in addressing sustainability issues and actively promoting sustainable development. While many EU member countries have well-developed education systems in terms of rankings and SDGs’ attainment, little is known about the progress of other European countries. The goal of this research is to estimate the efficiency of higher education in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 40 European countries. The method used to estimate efficiency is Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with output-orientation and variable returns to scale approach. In the final model specification, two input variables and one output variable are used. Results indicate that the average technical efficiency of the 40 European countries is relatively high and equal to 0.94. Nine countries emerge as fully efficient in achieving SDG 4 with a coefficient equal to 1. The four largest higher education systems achieved an above-average efficiency score of 0.97 or higher. Six countries are recognized as the worst performing. However, more analysis is necessary to examine the sources of inefficiency in the worst-performing countries. Due to specific data limitations indicated in this research, it remains a challenge to evaluate the precise impact of higher education and its contribution to SDGs.

With intensifying demands for sustainability in higher education—particularly tied to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—universities remain central to fostering responsible consumption and climate action. However, a significant gap persists in quantifying how effectively higher education institutions (HEIs) contribute to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The extant literature has largely relied on qualitative evidence or limited case studies, lacking comprehensive, data-driven comparisons across nations. This study addresses the existing gap in the literature by applying data envelopment analysis (DEA) to assess how efficiently European universities bolster sustainable consumption and climate initiatives. Drawing on secondary data from the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings and the Sustainable Development Report, this method provides new insights on how HEIs coordinate with their countries’ broader sustainability objectives. Our results show differences in efficiency among universities across 24 European countries, shaped by unique national contexts and policies. The study results can be used by university administrators and policymakers, who aim to improve the university contributions to achieving UN SDGs.

This paper analyses spatial impact of government expenditures on education on economic growth in the EU28 countries during the period 2004–2013. Employing a novel econometric technique that allows for the estimation of spatial spillovers, our results indicate that government expenditures on education significantly and positively infl uence GDP growth. Moreover, the indirect i.e. the spillover effects are quite large suggesting that the growth models should account for spatial interdependencies. Precisely, we find that education expenditures in one country affect GDP growth in the neighbouring countries, meaning that these spillovers are geographical in nature. Moreover, we find that the degree of interdependence among countries varies according to the average GDP per capita even if their geographical distances are identical. Additionally, immigration is found to be an important channel of spatial transmission.