The aim of this paper is to study the convergence patterns in the European Union and the Euro Area between 2000 and 2019 by means of the absolute and conditional β- and σ-convergence, considering cohesion not opposite but complementary to competitiveness. By estimating cross-sectional regressions, we have found evidence favouring the absolute β-convergence for the Eurozone (19) and the European Union, illustrating that the initially poorer members experienced higher GDP per capita growth rates than the developed economies. The average catching-up speed recorded between 2000 and 2019 in the European Union was 2.5%, while in the Eurozone (19), it was 2.3%. Based on panel data and seemingly unrelated regressions, we have illustrated that improvement in the competitiveness of Member States by promoting investment, trade openness, high levels of labour productivity, education and the implication of citizens in society positively influenced the GDP per capita growth rates between 2000 and 2019. Finally, the estimation of σ-convergence based on the standard deviation led us to conclude that income gaps narrowed across the European Union and the Eurozone (19) between 2000 and 2019, having, in contrast, an upward trend among the early adopters of the euro. The original elements of the paper derive from the comparative analysis of convergence in the Euro Area and the European Union and the study of the economic growth process from the perspective of competitiveness-related variables. In this respect, the study emphasizes the role of human capital in generating prosperity gains at the Community level.

This article contributes to the discussion about the socioeconomic factors that reinforce pesticide dependence in the European Union and hinder the transition to more sustainable agricultural practices in light of the European Union’s Green Deal objective of reducing the use of pesticides by 50% by 2030. The analysis has a two-pronged purpose: (1) to identify the determinants of pesticide consumption in the European Union by conducting a set of four seemingly unrelated regressions and (2) to emphasize the existence of regional patterns across EU countries formed by the factors that significantly impact pesticide consumption based on a cluster analysis. Per capita GDP, selling prices, population, and real income positively influence pesticide use, whereas subsidies and organic agricultural area negatively influence them. Pesticide use is most affected by GDP per capita and least affected by subsidies. Cluster analysis highlights regional differences reflected in three clusters: (1) the most recent EU member states, (2) the European countries with large population levels, and (3) the countries with the highest GDP per capita. Our findings may contribute to the EU’s capacity to generate policy changes at the member state level and can be built into recommendations to address the persistent overuse of pesticides.

Current educational systems and processes need to anticipate the challenges of the new millennium and lay the foundations for the future in the economic, social, technological, cultural and relational context. New educational programs must seriously consider a number of conditions such as: entirely new ways of serving existing needs and significantly disrupt existing industry value chains; growing transparency, consumer engagement, and new patterns of consumer behavior; the development of technology-enabled platforms that combine both demand and supply to disrupt existing industry structures, such as those we see within the “sharing” or “on demand” economy. In this paper I`ve started from the assumption that in the specific conditions of a creativity-based economy is necessary to rethink the components of the matrix partnership crossing from `triple helix` to `quadruple helix` logic. This new model becomes necessary because under current regional and international circumstances Mode 3 of knowledge production has become generalized. In this paper I`ve opted for the concept that adds civil society proposing reformulate the analytical model so as to place in balance integration with differentiation to produce suitability for a societal design defined by the self-organization of the sense communication process with respect to the analytical axes of complex systems. The basic idea of the research is to identify the way in which the challenges of internationalization of education, the transformations required by the emergence of this process, and the most relevant redefining that must take place at the level of curricular architectures and learning methods are understood. Based on the research I have made, I recommended few ways to cope with sensitive challenges educational systems are confronted with such as: better connecting theory and practice, teaching a more useful economics, designing the future based on the understanding of the past, minimizing the rhetorical component and maximizing the factual one, testing conformity of different ideas in advance.

One of the most acute challenges to which EU member countries urgently need to find solutions is related to digital resilience. Such a challenge must be addressed from both a temporal, spatial, and financial perspective. One of the areas where both problems and solutions to them must be placed is that of structural and investment funds. At the EU level, the new development model is feverishly sought, which must be green, digital, and resilient. The authors of this study explore how European Union funding programs and specifically the Recovery and Resilience Facility, influence the advancement of digital transition. It explores and quantifies the value added of using these programs to obtain more sustainable growth, societal inclusion, and global competitiveness through digital transformation. One of the most relevant hypothesis is that despite a growing interest in the impact of EU financial instruments on digitalisation, to different societal levels, lacks a comprehensive analysis that combines both the broad scope of EU initiatives and the specific impact of the RRF. Using qualitative methods, the authors investigated the main pitfalls and asymmetries of the allocative methods, the allocation, and impact of EU funding on digital transformation. The main focus of this paper is to answer the research questions regarding the connection between budget allocation for digital transformation and the position of digital transformation in EU priorities, while highlighting the changes that Recovery and Resilience Facility is bringing compared to other financial instruments for promoting digitalization in EU. Following this research route, we find indication that the budget allocations EU makes for digitalization, specifically through the Recovery and Resilience Facility demonstrate that digital transition is one of EU strategic priorities. The amounts and percentages made available through the Recovery and Resilience Facility which target to support in particular digital initiatives underline its key role in EU digital strategy. The clear comparison of EU financing programs that focus on digitalization, while providing a comprehensive literature review that gives a refined understanding of digitalization’s impact will enable professionals and policy makers to analyze EU strategic objectives and identify key focus areas that require additional support, thus contributing to EU digitalization efforts.

Analysts have many arguments to underline that the European integration project, which celebrates in March 2022 65 years from the signing of the Treaties of Rome, has passed the test of time, proving its capacity to fulfill many of its strategic goals. However, in spite of the numerous achievements, one of the objectives that has been only partially accomplished aims the economic, social and territorial cohesion. The aim of this paper is to study the convergence patterns in the European Union between 1995 and 2020, taking into consideration the economic and social dimensions. In this respect, we have tried to determine if the European Union can assure prosperity, as reflected by GDP per capita and also to enhance the citizens’ welfare, as shown by households’ consumption expenditure and actual individual consumption per capita. To compare the main trends in this respect for the period 1995-2020, we have used β- convergence, while the degree of economic and social homogeneity in the European Union was examined by σ-convergence. Estimating cross-sectional regressions, we have found evidence in favor of β- convergence, as the initially less developed Members experienced higher GDP per capita growth rates than the developed ones. The hypothesis is also confirmed for the social indicators, illustrating that the citizens’ wellbeing has improved with a higher pace in the Central and Eastern group compared to the wealthy Western Europe. By determining σ-convergence based on the coefficient of variation, we have illustrated that income and wellbeing divergences generally had a downward trend between 1995 and 2019. However, the Covid-19 pandemic reversed the favorable trend and determined an increase of gaps, mainly in terms of GDP per capita.