IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v27y2025i5d10.1007_s10668-023-04318-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Circular economy and agricultural employment: a panel analysis of EU advanced and emerging economies

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie

    (Charles Darwin University
    Charles Darwin University)

  • Matthew Abunyewah

    (Charles Darwin University)

  • Kofi Kusi Owusu-Ansah

    (University of Wyoming)

  • Charles Baah

    (Charles Darwin University)

  • Khorshed Alam

    (University of Southern Queensland)

  • Marita Basson

    (University of Southern Queensland)

Abstract

Using data from 24 European advanced and emerging countries between 2000 and 2020, this paper examines the impacts of circular economy (CE) on agriculture employment (AE) and female employment patterns. Based on the availability of data, the study uses three CE indicators: generation of municipal waste (GMW) per capita, the recycling rate of municipal waste (RRMW), and patents related to recycling and secondary raw materials (PRSRM). To investigate the relationship between CE and AE, as well as CE and female AE, panel cointegration analysis and Granger causality tests are conducted. The results reveal that whereas RRMW, PRSRM and AE are in equilibrium in the long run, increasing waste lowers female attraction to the sector. The study therefore suggests that developing and expanding waste management initiatives and innovation are critical to the growth of agricultural employment and the closing of existing gender gaps. Despite concerns that rising recycling practices may negatively impact employment, our empirical results indicate that CE will create opportunities and increase employment levels. The evidence suggests that promoting CE in agriculture is economically, ecologically, and socially beneficial.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie & Matthew Abunyewah & Kofi Kusi Owusu-Ansah & Charles Baah & Khorshed Alam & Marita Basson, 2025. "Circular economy and agricultural employment: a panel analysis of EU advanced and emerging economies," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 10469-10496, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04318-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-04318-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-023-04318-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-023-04318-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thomas C. Kinnaman & Don Fullerton, 2002. "The Economics of Residential Solid Waste Management," Chapters, in: Don Fullerton & Thomas C. Kinnaman (ed.), The Economics of Household Garbage and Recycling Behavior, chapter 1, pages 1-48, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. Alejandro Padilla-Rivera & Sara Russo-Garrido & Nicolas Merveille, 2020. "Addressing the Social Aspects of a Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Sato, Toshio & Qadir, Manzoor & Yamamoto, Sadahiro & Endo, Tsuneyoshi & Zahoor, Ahmad, 2013. "Global, regional, and country level need for data on wastewater generation, treatment, and use," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 1-13.
    4. Christopher Coghlan & Paige Proulx & Karolina Salazar, 2021. "A Food-Circular Economy-Women Nexus: Lessons from Guelph-Wellington," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Figge, Frank & Thorpe, Andrea Stevenson & Givry, Philippe & Canning, Louise & Franklin-Johnson, Elizabeth, 2018. "Longevity and Circularity as Indicators of Eco-Efficient Resource Use in the Circular Economy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 297-306.
    6. Nam Phong Le & Thi Thu Phuong Nguyen & Dajian Zhu, 2018. "Understanding the Stakeholders’ Involvement in Utilizing Municipal Solid Waste in Agriculture through Composting: A Case Study of Hanoi, Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-32, July.
    7. Walter R. Stahel, 2016. "The circular economy," Nature, Nature, vol. 531(7595), pages 435-438, March.
    8. Benedetta Esposito & Maria Rosaria Sessa & Daniela Sica & Ornella Malandrino, 2020. "Towards Circular Economy in the Agri-Food Sector. A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-21, September.
    9. Jens Horbach & Christian Rammer, 2020. "Circular economy innovations, growth and employment at the firm level: Empirical evidence from Germany," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(3), pages 615-625, June.
    10. George E. HALKOS & Kleoniki Natalia PETROU, 2016. "Moving Towards a Circular Economy: Rethinking Waste Management Practices," Journal of Economic and Social Thought, KSP Journals, vol. 3(2), pages 220-240, June.
    11. M. Hashem Pesaran & Yongcheol Shin & Richard J. Smith, 2001. "Bounds testing approaches to the analysis of level relationships," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 16(3), pages 289-326.
    12. Hervé Corvellec & Alison F. Stowell & Nils Johansson, 2022. "Critiques of the circular economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(2), pages 421-432, April.
    13. Yue, Qiong & Guo, Ping & Wu, Hui & Wang, Youzhi & Zhang, Chenglong, 2022. "Towards sustainable circular agriculture: An integrated optimization framework for crop-livestock-biogas-crop recycling system management under uncertainty," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    14. Vincent Moreau & Marlyne Sahakian & Pascal Griethuysen & François Vuille, 2017. "Coming Full Circle: Why Social and Institutional Dimensions Matter for the Circular Economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 497-506, June.
    15. Daniel Ddiba & Kim Andersson & Arno Rosemarin & Helfrid Schulte-Herbrüggen & Sarah Dickin, 2022. "The circular economy potential of urban organic waste streams in low- and middle-income countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 1116-1144, January.
    16. Tally Katz‐Gerro & Jordi López Sintas, 2019. "Mapping circular economy activities in the European Union: Patterns of implementation and their correlates in small and medium‐sized enterprises," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 485-496, May.
    17. repec:aud:audfin:v:20:y:2018:i:49:p:616 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Karina Fernandez-Stark & Gary Gereffi, 2019. "Global value chain analysis: a primer (second edition)," Chapters, in: Stefano Ponte & Gary Gereffi & Gale Raj-Reichert (ed.), Handbook on Global Value Chains, chapter 2, pages 54-76, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    19. Manzoor Qadir & Pay Drechsel & Blanca Jiménez Cisneros & Younggy Kim & Amit Pramanik & Praem Mehta & Oluwabusola Olaniyan, 2020. "Global and regional potential of wastewater as a water, nutrient and energy source," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 44(1), pages 40-51, February.
    20. Qadir, M. & Drechsel, Pay & Cisneros, B. J. & Kim, Y. & Pramanik, A. & Mehta, P. & Olaniyan, O., 2020. "Global and regional potential of wastewater as a water, nutrient and energy source," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 44(1):40-51.
    21. Burger, Martijn & Stavropoulos, Spyridon & Ramkumar, Shyaam & Dufourmont, Joke & van Oort, Frank, 2019. "The heterogeneous skill-base of circular economy employment," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 248-261.
    22. Alexandru –Mircea Nedelea & Marilena Mironiuc & Maria Carmen Huian & Mihaela B?rsan & Maria Viorica Bedrule-Grigoruta, 2018. "Modeled Interdependencies between Intellectual Capital, Circular Economy and Economic Growth in the Context of Bioeconomy," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 20(49), pages 616-616, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Ilaha Abasli & Farhad Mukhtarov, 2025. "Old Habits Die Hard: How Narratives on Social Aspects of Circular Economy (Re)Produce Global Inequalities," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 1219-1244, April.
    2. Lucas Becerra & Sebastián Carenzo & Paula Juarez, 2020. "When Circular Economy Meets Inclusive Development. Insights from Urban Recycling and Rural Water Access in Argentina," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-21, November.
    3. Sabina Scarpellini, 2022. "Social impacts of a circular business model: An approach from a sustainability accounting and reporting perspective," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 646-656, May.
    4. Aykut Coskun & Rosa Hofgärtner & Julie Metta & Alessandra Schmidt & Apostolos C. Tsolakis, 2025. "Circular Makerspaces as Alternative Employment Platforms for Circular Jobs," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 193-207, February.
    5. David Monciardini & Laura Rocca & Monica Veneziani, 2024. "Virtuous circles: Transformative impact and challenges of the social and solidarity circular economy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 642-660, February.
    6. Julen Galarza‐María & Alberto Díaz de Junguitu & Irati Labaien, 2024. "Social dimension of the circular economy: Impact categories through fuzzy Delphi method," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(5), pages 4726-4737, October.
    7. Mura, Rita & Vicentini, Francesca & Botti, Ludovico Maria & Chiriacò, Maria Vincenza, 2023. "Economic and environmental outcomes of a sustainable and circular approach: Case study of an Italian wine-producing firm," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    8. Francesca Bassi & Mariangela Guidolin, 2021. "Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy in European SMEs: Investigating the Role of Green Jobs and Skills," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, November.
    9. Ziegler, Rafael & Bauwens, Thomas & Roy, Michael J. & Teasdale, Simon & Fourrier, Ambre & Raufflet, Emmanuel, 2023. "Embedding circularity: Theorizing the social economy, its potential, and its challenges," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    10. Risa Arai & Martin Calisto Friant & Walter J. V. Vermeulen, 2024. "The Japanese Circular Economy and Sound Material-Cycle Society Policies: Discourse and Policy Analysis," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 619-650, March.
    11. Millar, Neal & McLaughlin, Eoin & Börger, Tobias, 2019. "The Circular Economy: Swings and Roundabouts?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 11-19.
    12. Enas Mohammed ALqodsi, 2025. "Extended producer responsibility in e‐waste recycling: A secure path to a sustainable future for UAE," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(1), pages 309-318, February.
    13. Gavin Melles, 2021. "Figuring the Transition from Circular Economy to Circular Society in Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-20, September.
    14. 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.
    15. Tariq Javed & Fareyha Said & Dalilawati Zainal & Azlina Abdul Jalil, 2024. "Circular Economy Implementation Status of Selected ASEAN Countries," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(1), pages 21582440231, March.
    16. Chembessi Chedrak & Gohoungodji Paulin & Juste Rajaonson, 2023. "“A fine wine, better with age”: Circular economy historical roots and influential publications: A bibliometric analysis using Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy (RPYS)," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(6), pages 1593-1612, December.
    17. Buyukyazici, Duygu & Quatraro, Francesco, 2025. "The skill requirements of the circular economy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    18. Jawaher Binsuwadan & Ghadda Yousif & Hiyam Abdulrahim & Hind Alofaysan, 2023. "The Role of the Circular Economy in Fostering Sustainable Economic Growth in the GCC," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-17, November.
    19. Arru, Brunella & Furesi, Roberto & Pulina, Pietro & Sau, Paola & Madau, Fabio A., 2022. "The Circular Economy in the Agri-food system: A Performance Measurement of European Countries," Economia agro-alimentare / Food Economy, Italian Society of Agri-food Economics/Società Italiana di Economia Agro-Alimentare (SIEA), vol. 24(2), September.
    20. Agustí Segarra‐Blasco & Mercedes Teruel & Josep Tomàs‐Porres, 2024. "Circular economy and public policies: A dynamic analysis for European SMEs," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3532-3549, May.

    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:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04318-2. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.