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Sustainability Transition in the Visegrád Group: Shared Goals, Different Paths

Author

Listed:
  • Piotr M. Bolibok

    (Department of Economic Policy and Banking, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Al. Racławickie 14, 20-950 Lublin, Poland)

  • Bartłomiej Zinczuk

    (Department of Management, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Plac Marii Curie-Sklodowskiej 5, 20-031 Lublin, Poland)

  • Anna Matras-Bolibok

    (Department of Microeconomics and Applied Economics, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Plac Marii Curie-Sklodowskiej 5, 20-031 Lublin, Poland)

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the sustainability performance trajectories of the Visegrád Group (V4) countries since their accession to the European Union. Given their shared historical, geopolitical, and socio-economic backgrounds, this study explores common evolutionary patterns and convergence within the sustainable development goal framework. This research employs the Kml3D non-parametric clustering algorithm and standard beta and sigma convergence tests. The analysis covers the 2004–2023 data sourced from the European Sustainable Development Report 2023/24 by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The findings demonstrate that while each country follows a distinct path, Czechia and Slovakia exhibit notable similarities in the evolution of individual sustainability dimensions. This underscores the influence of path dependence, institutional inertia, and cross-border policy coordination in sustainable development. The results also suggest that although the V4 countries generally converge in socio-economic and infrastructural dimensions of sustainability, divergence persists in education, gender equality, nature preservation, and institutional performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Piotr M. Bolibok & Bartłomiej Zinczuk & Anna Matras-Bolibok, 2025. "Sustainability Transition in the Visegrád Group: Shared Goals, Different Paths," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-29, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:1951-:d:1599081
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    References listed on IDEAS

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