European Union at a Glance presents an easily understandable overview of 30 selected indicators over 28 EU countries in time, which is probably the most condensed current summary picture of dynamics and disparities in the EU over many domains over time.
The Gaptimer Report No. 3 is timely publication very useful for discussion of the situation in the EU in light of the forthcoming new European Commission and European Parliament and at the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the largest EU expansion in 2004.
List of 30 selected indicators
|
Indicators
|
Data range
|
Top country (last year)
|
1
|
Life expectancy at birth
|
1960-2012
|
Spain
|
2
|
Human Development Index
|
1980-2012
|
Netherlands
|
3
|
GDP per capita in PPS
|
1995-2012
|
Luxembourg
|
4
|
Median income in PPS
|
1995-2013
|
Luxembourg
|
5
|
Employment rate (15 to 64 years)
|
1992-2012
|
Netherlands
|
6
|
Activity rate (15 to 64 years)
|
1992-2012
|
Sweden
|
7
|
Share of gross fixed investment in GDP
|
1954-2013
|
Estonia
|
8
|
R&D expenditure (GERD), percent of GDP
|
1981-2012
|
Finland
|
9
|
Summary Innovation Index
|
2008-2012
|
Sweden
|
10
|
Tertiary attainment for age group 15-64
|
2000-2013
|
Ireland
|
11
|
Proportion of population aged 65 years and more
|
1961-2013
|
Italy
|
12
|
Old age dependency ratio, projections 2013-2080
|
2013-2080
|
Slovakia
|
13
|
Population growth rates, total
|
1961-2013
|
Luxembourg
|
14
|
Persons killed in road accidents per million inhabitants
|
1990-2012
|
United Kingdom
|
15
|
Death due to homicide, standardised death rate by 100 000 inh.
|
1994-2010
|
United Kingdom
|
16
|
Infant mortality rate
|
1960-2012
|
Slovenia
|
17
|
At-risk-of-poverty (percent of total population)
|
1995-2012
|
Czech
Republic
|
18
|
At-risk-of-poverty (percent of elderly population)
|
1995-2013
|
Hungary
|
19
|
Income quintile share ratio S80/S20
|
1995-2013
|
Slovenia
|
20
|
GINI coefficient
|
1995-2013
|
Slovenia
|
21
|
Early leavers from education and training
|
1992-2013
|
Croatia
|
22
|
Healthy life years at birth - females
|
1995-2012
|
Malta
|
23
|
Healthy life years at birth - males
|
1999-2012
|
Malta
|
24
|
Households with broadband access
|
2003-2013
|
Finland
|
25
|
Regular Internet use
|
2003-2013
|
Luxembourg
|
26
|
Share of energy from renewable sources
|
2004-2012
|
Sweden
|
27
|
Urban population exposure to air pollution by particulate matter PM10
|
1997-2011
|
Denmark
|
28
|
Publications per million inhabitants
|
1994-2010
|
Denmark
|
29
|
Proportion of seats in national parliaments held by women
|
2000-2013
|
Sweden
|
30
|
Current account balance in % of GDP
|
1975-2013
|
Netherlands
|
AN
ADDITIONAL WAY OF PRESENTATION ACROSS MANY UNITS AND MANY YEARS
|
It uses innovative time matrix presentation format that enables such
condensed summary visual presentation over many countries and over time.
Secondly, 30 selected indicators from many
Eurostat indicators systems like Quality of life; Sustainable Development
Indicators, Digital Agenda, Headline Indicators, etc. follow the orientation of
Beyond GDP. Annex A1 provides Time Matrix
Calculator to calculate time matrix for your own data.
The
30 time matrices give rich food for thought and imagination of readers can find
numerous comparisons and stories in the material. One of them is that the
damage done to countries by the world financial crisis is seen in a much greater scale when we look for 28 countries
beyond GDP and look at employment, investment share, risk of poverty, income
distribution, health, etc.
While media and also official organizations
are focusing on discussion of GDP growth rate, such orientation understated the severity of the crisis.
Other domains showed a more difficult
situation:
- employment rate fell in 20 EU
countries;
- in all 28 EU countries without exception
share of gross investment in GDP decreased;
- risk of poverty as percent of
total population increased in 24 EU countries;
- income distribution worsened as
Gini coefficient and income quartile share ratio increased in 25 EU countries;
- healthy life years at birth
decreased for males and females in 15-18 EU countries.
The
voyage through 30 time matrices for 28 countries compressed a very large amount
of data, expressing multidimensional nature of development and well-being, indicating both visually and in numbers that very large
differences exist between EU countries with respects to levels and dynamics.
Using the innovative approach of time distance methodology the telling power of S-time-matrix provided a good summary overview
at-a-glance over many domains with clear understanding to decision-makers as
well as to the general public. Seeing with new eyes creates new knowledge
and better understanding.
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