Toward a Sustainable Development of E-Commerce in EU: The Role of Education, Internet Infrastructure, Income, and Economic Freedom on E-Commerce Growth

The emergence of e-commerce reshaped the traditional trade models, also playing a significant role in meeting the UN sustainable development goals. According to the UN, sustained growth and social development must include resilient infrastructure, foster innovation, allow for better access to inform...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability 2024-05, Vol.16 (9), p.3809
Main Authors: Jula, Nicolae Marius, Staicu, Gabriel Ilie, Moraru, Liviu Cătălin, Bodislav, Dumitru Alexandru
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Competition
Consumer behavior
Consumer protection
Consumers
COVID-19
Digital literacy
Digital technology
Econometric models
Economic aspects
Education
Educational attainment
Electronic commerce
GDP
Gross Domestic Product
Growth
Infrastructure
Infrastructure (Economics)
Innovations
Internet
Internet access
Literature reviews
Pandemics
Romania
Shopping
Small & medium sized enterprises-SME
Sustainable development
United Kingdom
Web applications
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Summary:The emergence of e-commerce reshaped the traditional trade models, also playing a significant role in meeting the UN sustainable development goals. According to the UN, sustained growth and social development must include resilient infrastructure, foster innovation, allow for better access to information and communications technology, and universal and affordable internet infrastructure. This study explores a multidimensional analysis of e-commerce development in the EU generated by the following factors: education, internet infrastructure, income, and economic freedom. We use an ARDL econometric model and Eurostat data. Additionally, we analyze the time responsiveness of e-commerce growth to changes in these factors. In the long run, our findings identify a stable and positive relationship between e-commerce and all these factors. However, in the short run, our results illustrate significant dynamics between two variables and e-commerce. Specifically, the level of internet access and the percentage of individuals who use the internet daily exhibit a positive short-run impact on e-commerce sales, with the system absorbing shocks within a short period. This research advocates for targeted policies that support innovation, fair competition, and consumer protection in the digital economy. This research provides valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders in improving the institutional framework to promote a sustainable development of e-commerce in the EU.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su16093809