Does Circular Economy Contribute to Smart Cities’ Sustainable Development?

Gheorghița Dincă, Ana-Angela Milan, Maria Andronic, Anna-Maria Pasztori and Dragoș Dincă
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Gheorghița Dincă: Department of Finance, Accounting and Economic Theory, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Brașov, 500036 Brasov, Romania
Ana-Angela Milan: Department of Finance, Accounting and Economic Theory, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Brașov, 500036 Brasov, Romania
Anna-Maria Pasztori: Department of Finance, Accounting and Economic Theory, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Transilvania University of Brașov, 500036 Brasov, Romania
Dragoș Dincă: Department of Economics 1, Faculty of Economic and Applied Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-27

Abstract: The purpose of this research paper is to investigate and identify the factors which can support the development of one characteristic of smart cities, namely, the smart environment. More specifically, the main goal is to measure the extent to which air pollution may be reduced, taking as determinants several circular economy, fiscal, and environmental factors. The Ordinary Least Squares, the Fixed Effects, and Random Effects regression models using balanced panel data were employed, over the 2011–2019 period, for 28 European states. After rigorously studying the literature, 11 indicators with a predictable impact on the exposure to air pollution were kept. According to current analysis, the most effective methods of reducing air pollution are the use of renewable energy, the investments in educating the population to reduce pollution, the proper implementation of the circular economy, and the adoption of the most suitable policies by the European Union governments. Particular attention needs to be paid to factors such as carbon dioxide-generating activities, which are significantly increasing the air pollution. Another strong value is that of providing information on the assessment of ambient air quality, and on the promotion of appropriate policies to achieve two major objectives: well-being, and sustainable cities.

Keywords: smart city; circular economy; sustainable development; air pollution; environmental protection; recycling; renewable energy; governance performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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