TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE GROWTH: ASSESSING THE NEXUS BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY INDICATORS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59267/ekoPolj2603931RKeywords:
agricultural value added, circular economy, European Union, panel data analysis, renewable energy, sustainable developmentAbstract
This paper examines the relationship betweenagricultural output and circular economy indicatorsin 36 European countries over the period 2015–2024.Using an unbalanced panel of 360 observations, a panelregression model with fixed effects was estimatedfollowing a series of diagnostic tests that confirmedthe robustness and reliability of the estimates.Agriculture, forestry and fishing value added perworker was modelled as a function of five circulareconomy indicators, alongside GDP per capita, ruralpopulation share and agricultural employment. Allestimated coefficients were significant at the 1%level. The recycling rate of municipal waste andthe share of renewable energy positively affectagricultural value added, while the generation ofmunicipal waste, raw material consumption, ruralpopulation and agricultural employment exertnegative effects. The findings confirm that circulareconomy practices and agricultural productivity arecomplementary rather than conflicting areas, whoselong-term synergy depends on coordinated economicpolicy support.
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