The Efficiency of Resource Utilization in EU-28 Countries through Eco-Innovation and Digital Inclusion

Alexandra-Maria Constantin, Orlando-Marian Voica, Cătălin-Ionuț Silvestru (), Vasilica-Cristina Icociu, Ramona-Camelia Silvestru and Andreea Grecu
Additional contact information
Alexandra-Maria Constantin: Department of Economic Informatics and Cybernetics, Faculty of Economic Cybernetics, Statistics and Informatics, Bucharest University of Economics Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania
Orlando-Marian Voica: Department of Economic Informatics and Cybernetics, Faculty of Economic Cybernetics, Statistics and Informatics, Bucharest University of Economics Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania
Cătălin-Ionuț Silvestru: Robots and Production System Department, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 060041 Bucharest, Romania
Vasilica-Cristina Icociu: Robots and Production System Department, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 060041 Bucharest, Romania
Ramona-Camelia Silvestru: Metallic Constructions, Management and Graphic Engineering Department, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 Bucharest, Romania
Andreea Grecu: Metallic Constructions, Management and Graphic Engineering Department, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 Bucharest, Romania

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 24, 1-15

Abstract: Innovation has been a historical driver for progress. The need for more effective resource utilization has ignited the presence of many innovations in the economic environment. Among others, digitalization and internet connectivity are important pillars of development. Our paper aims to provide a few insights related to the question “How can we increase the efficiency of resource utilization in EU-28 countries through Eco-Innovation and Digital Inclusion?” This paper examines the issue of innovation related to the use of natural resources (Eco-innovation) as a determining factor in resource consumption in societies with different levels of digital inclusion. Our analysis is based on clustering of EU-28 Member States using three variables: the degree of digital inclusion, the Eco-Innovation Index, and the degree of resource use. We expect digital inclusion to mediate the relationship between eco-innovation and resource utilization. Clustering might reveal how the Eco-Innovation Index, Digital Inclusion Level, and Resource Productivity Index differ among EU-28 Member States and provide relevant information for prioritization of resource allocation at the EU level. Our approach of clustering based on the three variables considered reveals that countries with a better economy present better performance from the point of view of Digital Inclusion in the context of Eco-Innovation and the use of resources.

Keywords: European Union Green Pact; eco-innovation; digital inclusion; resource productivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16924/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16924/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:24:p:16924-:d:1302004

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().