Institutions’ quality and economic performance in the EU: insights from a cluster analysis

The article examines the complex relationship between institutions and economic performance in the EU. Institutions’ quality will be measured by corruption (measured by the Corruption Perceptions Index) and so-called “state fragility” (measured by the Fragile States Index); economic performance will...

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Main Authors: Olga Lavrinenko, Svetlana Ignatjeva, Alina Danileviča, Vera Komarova, Stanislav Vaisla
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center 2025-03-01
Series:Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues
Online Access:https://jssidoi.org/jesi/article/1280
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author Olga Lavrinenko
Svetlana Ignatjeva
Alina Danileviča
Vera Komarova
Stanislav Vaisla
author_facet Olga Lavrinenko
Svetlana Ignatjeva
Alina Danileviča
Vera Komarova
Stanislav Vaisla
author_sort Olga Lavrinenko
collection DOAJ
description The article examines the complex relationship between institutions and economic performance in the EU. Institutions’ quality will be measured by corruption (measured by the Corruption Perceptions Index) and so-called “state fragility” (measured by the Fragile States Index); economic performance will be measured by GDP per capita in PPP. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, the study classifies the EU countries into two groups: (1) countries with high corruption, low quality of public institutions and low economic performance, and (2) countries with low corruption, strong public institutions and high economic performance. This method reveals differences in the impact of corruption and fragile states on economic performance, making the analysis more comprehensive than linear regression models. The study results show that in countries with high corruption and low quality of public institutions, economic performance is significantly lower, and corruption has a more significant negative impact on the economy. At the same time, in the more developed countries, where corruption is low, economic performance is related to the Fragile States Index. These differences underscore that in less developed countries, the fight against corruption should be a key priority, while in more developed countries, the focus should be on strengthening public institutions to sustain high economic performance. The results of the study have important foresight conclusions. In countries with high corruption and low level of quality of public institutions, without decisive measures to address them, economic performance could be expected to continue to decrease, leading to greater economic and social imbalances. For countries with high economic performance and strong public institutions, the emphasis on institution-building will contribute to more sustainable economic performance in the long term. It is expected that countries that effectively combat corruption and strengthen their public institutions will be able to improve economic performance, attract more investment and increase global competitiveness. The study provides a new perspective on the relationship between corruption, fragile states and economic performance, for the first time classifying the EU countries on the basis of these indicators. The results of the study point to the need to develop adapted policies aimed at strengthening public institutions and reducing corruption, which are important for sustaining and increasing economic performance in different groups of the EU countries.
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spelling doaj-art-3f3bbf6adae249d689c41c96bf9fa94c2025-08-20T01:57:54ZengEntrepreneurship and Sustainability CenterEntrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues2345-02822025-03-011238810110.9770/f6735475773Institutions’ quality and economic performance in the EU: insights from a cluster analysisOlga Lavrinenkohttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7383-3749Svetlana Ignatjevahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3608-8409Alina Danilevičahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2749-2725Vera Komarovahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9829-622XStanislav Vaislahttps://orcid.org/0009-0008-7303-4996The article examines the complex relationship between institutions and economic performance in the EU. Institutions’ quality will be measured by corruption (measured by the Corruption Perceptions Index) and so-called “state fragility” (measured by the Fragile States Index); economic performance will be measured by GDP per capita in PPP. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, the study classifies the EU countries into two groups: (1) countries with high corruption, low quality of public institutions and low economic performance, and (2) countries with low corruption, strong public institutions and high economic performance. This method reveals differences in the impact of corruption and fragile states on economic performance, making the analysis more comprehensive than linear regression models. The study results show that in countries with high corruption and low quality of public institutions, economic performance is significantly lower, and corruption has a more significant negative impact on the economy. At the same time, in the more developed countries, where corruption is low, economic performance is related to the Fragile States Index. These differences underscore that in less developed countries, the fight against corruption should be a key priority, while in more developed countries, the focus should be on strengthening public institutions to sustain high economic performance. The results of the study have important foresight conclusions. In countries with high corruption and low level of quality of public institutions, without decisive measures to address them, economic performance could be expected to continue to decrease, leading to greater economic and social imbalances. For countries with high economic performance and strong public institutions, the emphasis on institution-building will contribute to more sustainable economic performance in the long term. It is expected that countries that effectively combat corruption and strengthen their public institutions will be able to improve economic performance, attract more investment and increase global competitiveness. The study provides a new perspective on the relationship between corruption, fragile states and economic performance, for the first time classifying the EU countries on the basis of these indicators. The results of the study point to the need to develop adapted policies aimed at strengthening public institutions and reducing corruption, which are important for sustaining and increasing economic performance in different groups of the EU countries.https://jssidoi.org/jesi/article/1280
spellingShingle Olga Lavrinenko
Svetlana Ignatjeva
Alina Danileviča
Vera Komarova
Stanislav Vaisla
Institutions’ quality and economic performance in the EU: insights from a cluster analysis
Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues
title Institutions’ quality and economic performance in the EU: insights from a cluster analysis
title_full Institutions’ quality and economic performance in the EU: insights from a cluster analysis
title_fullStr Institutions’ quality and economic performance in the EU: insights from a cluster analysis
title_full_unstemmed Institutions’ quality and economic performance in the EU: insights from a cluster analysis
title_short Institutions’ quality and economic performance in the EU: insights from a cluster analysis
title_sort institutions quality and economic performance in the eu insights from a cluster analysis
url https://jssidoi.org/jesi/article/1280
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AT verakomarova institutionsqualityandeconomicperformanceintheeuinsightsfromaclusteranalysis
AT stanislavvaisla institutionsqualityandeconomicperformanceintheeuinsightsfromaclusteranalysis