Digitalization and Economic Growth in the European Union:A Panel Analysis for the EU-27 (2015–2024)
Digitalization has become a central driver of economic growth, influencing productivity, innovation, and national competitiveness. This study examines the impact of digitalization on GDP per capita in the EU-27 over the period 2015–2024, using the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) alongside traditional determinants of economic growth: investment in physical capital, human capital, trade openness, and institutional quality. Panel data are analyzed using Fixed Effects and Random Effects models, with the Hausman test employed to identify the appropriate specification. The results indicate that digitalization exerts a positive and statistically significant effect on GDP per capita. Moreover, institutional quality, investment, and education emerge as critical complementary factors that amplify the impact of digitalization. The study provides relevant empirical evidence for public policies aimed at integrating digitalization, investment, and education into strategies for sustainable economic growth in the European Union.
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Copyright (c) 2026 cornelia tomescu dumitrescu, Ass.Prof.PhD. Constanta Enea, Ass.Prof.PhD. Genu-Alexandru Căruntu (Author)
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Article Information
- Article Type Articles
- Submitted June 13, 2026
- Accepted June 28, 2026
- Published July 16, 2026
- Issue Vol. 2 No. 2 (2026): Journal of Balkan Economies and Management
- Section Articles