EU SOCIAL PROGRESS INDEX - SHORT AUDIT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND SOCIAL WELFARE IN ROMANIA

Abstract: The EU Social Progress Index is a measure of societal development and quality of life at the regional level. Practically it measures social progress in European regions, at the NUTS2 level, excluding economic aspects, but equally using twelve components described by a total number of fifty-five comparable social and environmental indicators. Even though the global index has increased by 4.63 points since 2011, reaching 65.05 in 2021, the advances are not distributed across all components analyzed. According to data there are a lot of disparities that vary greatly not only across regions but across different aspects of social progress. While the Nordic countries performed quite well, the Southeastern countries lagged behind. Even if in 2020, Romania’s GDP per capita increased to 72% of the European Union (EU) average, Romania ranks last among the Member States of the European Union concerning quality of life and social welfare (ranks 44th out of 168 countries). Behind the one's countries like Hungary and Bulgaria.

Keyword: Advanced Education, Basic Knowledge, Environmental Quality, EU Social Progress Index, GDP per capita, Health and Wellness, ICT Access, Nutrition and Care, Personal Freedom and Choice, Personal Rights, Personal Security, Shelter, Tolerance Inclusion, Water and Sanitation

JEL Classification: A14, Z13