IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i13p7158-d582336.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Clustering of EU Countries by the Level of Circular Economy: An Object-Oriented Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Konstantin Gomonov

    (Department of Economic and Mathematical Modelling, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia)

  • Svetlana Ratner

    (Department of Economic and Mathematical Modelling, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia
    Economic Dynamics and Innovation Management Laboratory, V.A. Trapeznikov Institute of Control Sciences, Russian Academy of Sciences, 65 Profsoyuznaya Street, 117997 Moscow, Russia)

  • Inna Lazanyuk

    (Department of Economic and Mathematical Modelling, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia)

  • Svetlana Revinova

    (Department of Economic and Mathematical Modelling, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia)

Abstract

In order to effectively regulate the circular economy (CE) at the national and international levels, it is essential to have a unified and informative system of indicators for monitoring the progress in the CE. The lack of standard indicators for measuring the progress of cyclicality leads to contradictions and misunderstandings, which is a problem for the implementation of CE strategies. This paper aims to adapt dynamic clustering approaches to solving strategic management problems of circular production and consumption processes. To achieve this goal, the authors performed the following tasks: (1) tested clustering algorithms by ranking EU countries by the level of development of the circular economy; (2) identified the approach that allows the best classification of EU countries, considering changes in the indicators of the level of CE development in 2000–2019 (dynamic classification); (3) developed a software module using python libraries to classify and visualize the results. The results illustrate that the k-means algorithm has a good discriminatory ability in division of all countries of the training sample (EU countries) into several clusters with different dynamics in the development of the CE. The best quality of classification is obtained by the indicator “Generation of municipal waste per capita”; satisfactory quality of the classification is obtained by the indicator “Generation of waste excluding major mineral wastes per GDP unit”. The study results demonstrate the fundamental applicability of the object-oriented and classical statistical approach to solving strategic management problems of the CE and their potential effectiveness in terms of the clarity and information content of reflecting cyclical processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Konstantin Gomonov & Svetlana Ratner & Inna Lazanyuk & Svetlana Revinova, 2021. "Clustering of EU Countries by the Level of Circular Economy: An Object-Oriented Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-20, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:7158-:d:582336
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/13/7158/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/13/7158/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Glenn Milligan & Martha Cooper, 1985. "An examination of procedures for determining the number of clusters in a data set," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 50(2), pages 159-179, June.
    2. Marcus Linder & Steven Sarasini & Patricia Loon, 2017. "A Metric for Quantifying Product-Level Circularity," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 545-558, June.
    3. Jaime Sánchez-Ortiz & Vanesa Rodríguez-Cornejo & Rosario Del Río-Sánchez & Teresa García-Valderrama, 2020. "Indicators to Measure Efficiency in Circular Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-15, June.
    4. Roman Lacko & Zuzana Hajduová & Marcin Zawada, 2021. "The Efficiency of Circular Economies: A Comparison of Visegrád Group Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, March.
    5. Willi Haas & Fridolin Krausmann & Dominik Wiedenhofer & Markus Heinz, 2015. "How Circular is the Global Economy?: An Assessment of Material Flows, Waste Production, and Recycling in the European Union and the World in 2005," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(5), pages 765-777, October.
    6. Zvonimira Sverko Grdic & Marinela Krstinic Nizic & Elena Rudan, 2020. "Circular Economy Concept in the Context of Economic Development in EU Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-13, April.
    7. Nikolay Sterev & Vania Ivanova, 2021. "Circular Economy: New Opportunities for Growth," Eurasian Studies in Business and Economics, in: Mehmet Huseyin Bilgin & Hakan Danis & Ender Demir & Sofia Vale (ed.), Eurasian Economic Perspectives, pages 339-357, Springer.
    8. Barbara Fura & Małgorzata Stec & Teresa Miś, 2020. "Statistical Evaluation of the Level of Development of Circular Economy in European Union Member Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-23, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Joanicjusz Nazarko & Ewa Chodakowska & Łukasz Nazarko, 2022. "Evaluating the Transition of the European Union Member States towards a Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-24, May.
    2. Claudia Diana Sabău-Popa & Alexandra Maria Bele & Anca Otilia Dodescu & Marcel Ioan Boloș, 2022. "How Does the Circular Economy Applied in the European Union Support Sustainable Economic Development?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-16, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Michael Saidani & Alissa Kendall & Bernard Yannou & Yann Leroy & François Cluzel, 2019. "Closing the loop on platinum from catalytic converters: Contributions from material flow analysis and circularity indicators," Post-Print hal-02094798, HAL.
    2. Marta Negri & Alessandra Neri & Enrico Cagno & Gabriele Monfardini, 2021. "Circular Economy Performance Measurement in Manufacturing Firms: A Systematic Literature Review with Insights for Small and Medium Enterprises and New Adopters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-27, August.
    3. Joanicjusz Nazarko & Ewa Chodakowska & Łukasz Nazarko, 2022. "Evaluating the Transition of the European Union Member States towards a Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-24, May.
    4. Andreea Loredana Bîrgovan & Elena Simina Lakatos & Andrea Szilagyi & Lucian Ionel Cioca & Roxana Lavinia Pacurariu & George Ciobanu & Elena Cristina Rada, 2022. "How Should We Measure? A Review of Circular Cities Indicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-16, April.
    5. Roman Lacko & Zuzana Hajduová & Marcin Zawada, 2021. "The Efficiency of Circular Economies: A Comparison of Visegrád Group Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, March.
    6. Pablo Piñones & Ivan Derpich & Ricardo Venegas, 2023. "Circular Economy 4.0 Evaluation Model for Urban Road Infrastructure Projects, CIROAD," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-32, February.
    7. Armand Kasztelan, 2020. "How Circular Are the European Economies? A Taxonomic Analysis Based on the INEC (Index of National Economies’ Circularity)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-11, September.
    8. Monika Stelmaszczyk & Agata Pierścieniak & Anna Krzysztofek, 2021. "Managerial Energy in Sustainable Enterprises: Organizational Wisdom Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, April.
    9. Cris Garcia-Saravia Ortiz-de-Montellano & Yvonne Meer, 2022. "A Theoretical Framework for Circular Processes and Circular Impacts Through a Comprehensive Review of Indicators," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 23(2), pages 291-314, June.
    10. Chhimwal, Madhukar & Agrawal, Saurabh & Kumar, Girish, 2023. "Markovian approach to evaluate circularity in supply chain of non ferrous metal industry," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    11. Alexandra Barón & Rudi de Castro & Gerusa Giménez, 2020. "Circular Economy Practices among Industrial EMAS-Registered SMEs in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-25, October.
    12. Jaime Sánchez-Ortiz & Vanesa Rodríguez-Cornejo & Rosario Del Río-Sánchez & Teresa García-Valderrama, 2020. "Indicators to Measure Efficiency in Circular Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-15, June.
    13. Fatima Khitous & Fernanda Strozzi & Andrea Urbinati & Fernando Alberti, 2020. "A Systematic Literature Network Analysis of Existing Themes and Emerging Research Trends in Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-24, February.
    14. Rohit Agrawal & Vishal A. Wankhede & Anil Kumar & Sunil Luthra & Abhijit Majumdar & Yigit Kazancoglu, 2022. "An Exploratory State-of-the-Art Review of Artificial Intelligence Applications in Circular Economy using Structural Topic Modeling," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 609-626, December.
    15. Liu, Pei-chen Barry & Hansen, Mark & Mukherjee, Avijit, 2008. "Scenario-based air traffic flow management: From theory to practice," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 42(7-8), pages 685-702, August.
    16. Hélène Syed Zwick & S. Ali Shah Syed, 2017. "The polarization impact of the crisis on the Eurozone labour markets: a hierarchical cluster analysis," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(7), pages 472-476, April.
    17. Wajad Ulfat & Ayesha Mohyuddin & Muhammad Amjad & Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan & Beenish Mujahid & Sohail Nadeem & Mohsin Javed & Adnan Amjad & Abdul Qayyum Ashraf & Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman & Sadaful H, 2023. "Reuse of Buffing Dust-Laden Tanning Waste Hybridized with Poly- Styrene for Fabrication of Thermal Insulation Materials," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-12, January.
    18. Goethner, Maximilian & Hornuf, Lars & Regner, Tobias, 2021. "Protecting investors in equity crowdfunding: An empirical analysis of the small investor protection act," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    19. Laura Bonacorsi, 2020. "Measuring circularity: a critical analysis of some relevant indicators," Reports, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, December.
    20. Jacopo Zotti & Andrea Bigano, 2019. "Write circular economy, read economy’s circularity. How to avoid going in circles," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 36(2), pages 629-652, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:7158-:d:582336. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.