PROMOTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL COHESION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

This paper investigates the relationship between the circular economy, sustainable development and social cohesion in the European Union by analysing the impact of circularity and social inclusion indicators on employment rates in the 27 Member States over the period 2013-2023. Building on the r...

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Main Authors: GEORGESCU LUCIAN PUIU, BARBUTA – MISU NICOLETA, FORTEA COSTINELA, ANTOHI VALENTIN-MARIAN
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academica Brâncuşi 2025-04-01
Series:Analele Universităţii Constantin Brâncuşi din Târgu Jiu : Seria Economie
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.utgjiu.ro/revista/ec/pdf/2025-02/11_Georgescu.pdf
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author GEORGESCU LUCIAN PUIU
BARBUTA – MISU NICOLETA
FORTEA COSTINELA
ANTOHI VALENTIN-MARIAN
author_facet GEORGESCU LUCIAN PUIU
BARBUTA – MISU NICOLETA
FORTEA COSTINELA
ANTOHI VALENTIN-MARIAN
author_sort GEORGESCU LUCIAN PUIU
collection DOAJ
description This paper investigates the relationship between the circular economy, sustainable development and social cohesion in the European Union by analysing the impact of circularity and social inclusion indicators on employment rates in the 27 Member States over the period 2013-2023. Building on the recognition of the circular economy as a key strategy in the European Ecological Pact and the Circular Economy Action Plan, the research proposes an integrated approach that combines the environmental and social dimensions of sustainable development. The novelty of the study lies in the application of a multiple linear regression model including variables relevant to both the circular economy (recycling rate, circular use of materials, resource productivity, waste generation) and social cohesion (NEET rate, Gini coefficient), with employment rate as the dependent variable. The results obtained indicate a significant relationship between the indicators analysed and employment, confirming that a more circular economy is associated with a higher employment rate, while social exclusion, especially among young people, has a significant negative impact. The findings support the need for the formulation of integrated European public policies that harness the potential of the circular economy not only in an ecological sense, but also as a tool for social inclusion and regional equity. The research contributes to expanding the literature by highlighting a systemic perspective on circularity and provides a relevant empirical basis for supporting the transition towards a sustainable and inclusive economy in the European Union.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
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spelling doaj-art-0303956a227142d3ab8e338fddf06dd12025-08-20T02:09:45ZengAcademica BrâncuşiAnalele Universităţii Constantin Brâncuşi din Târgu Jiu : Seria Economie1844-70072344-36852025-04-0112137155PROMOTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL COHESION IN THE EUROPEAN UNIONGEORGESCU LUCIAN PUIU0BARBUTA – MISU NICOLETA1FORTEA COSTINELA2ANTOHI VALENTIN-MARIAN3DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS AND ENVIRONMENT, DUNAREA DE JOS UNIVERSITY OF GALATI, ROMANIA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, DUNAREA DE JOS UNIVERSITY OF GALATI, ROMANIADEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, DUNAREA DE JOS UNIVERSITY OF GALATI, ROMANIA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DUNAREA DE JOS UNIVERSITY OF GALATI, ROMANIA This paper investigates the relationship between the circular economy, sustainable development and social cohesion in the European Union by analysing the impact of circularity and social inclusion indicators on employment rates in the 27 Member States over the period 2013-2023. Building on the recognition of the circular economy as a key strategy in the European Ecological Pact and the Circular Economy Action Plan, the research proposes an integrated approach that combines the environmental and social dimensions of sustainable development. The novelty of the study lies in the application of a multiple linear regression model including variables relevant to both the circular economy (recycling rate, circular use of materials, resource productivity, waste generation) and social cohesion (NEET rate, Gini coefficient), with employment rate as the dependent variable. The results obtained indicate a significant relationship between the indicators analysed and employment, confirming that a more circular economy is associated with a higher employment rate, while social exclusion, especially among young people, has a significant negative impact. The findings support the need for the formulation of integrated European public policies that harness the potential of the circular economy not only in an ecological sense, but also as a tool for social inclusion and regional equity. The research contributes to expanding the literature by highlighting a systemic perspective on circularity and provides a relevant empirical basis for supporting the transition towards a sustainable and inclusive economy in the European Union. https://www.utgjiu.ro/revista/ec/pdf/2025-02/11_Georgescu.pdfcircular economysustainable developmentemploymentsocial cohesioneuropean unionsocial inclusiongreen transitionmultiple linear regression
spellingShingle GEORGESCU LUCIAN PUIU
BARBUTA – MISU NICOLETA
FORTEA COSTINELA
ANTOHI VALENTIN-MARIAN
PROMOTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL COHESION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
Analele Universităţii Constantin Brâncuşi din Târgu Jiu : Seria Economie
circular economy
sustainable development
employment
social cohesion
european union
social inclusion
green transition
multiple linear regression
title PROMOTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL COHESION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
title_full PROMOTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL COHESION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
title_fullStr PROMOTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL COHESION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
title_full_unstemmed PROMOTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL COHESION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
title_short PROMOTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL COHESION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
title_sort promoting the circular economy for sustainable development and social cohesion in the european union
topic circular economy
sustainable development
employment
social cohesion
european union
social inclusion
green transition
multiple linear regression
url https://www.utgjiu.ro/revista/ec/pdf/2025-02/11_Georgescu.pdf
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AT forteacostinela promotingthecirculareconomyforsustainabledevelopmentandsocialcohesionintheeuropeanunion
AT antohivalentinmarian promotingthecirculareconomyforsustainabledevelopmentandsocialcohesionintheeuropeanunion