Transformacja, wzrost gospodarczy i środowisko przyrodnicze w państwach Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej

Abstract

After thirty years of transformation in Central and Eastern Europe, we can see differences in the economic development of individual countries. In the paper, we decided to analyse those differences in transformation paths, economic growth and environmental degradation by carbon dioxide emission. The analysis of economic growth covers the years 1995–2017, and for the emission of carbon dioxide, the years 1995–2014. The results of the study show that the transformation in countries closer to Western Europe was faster, which contributed to faster economic growth. It is noticeable that in the following years, this economic growth in this region was stimulated by the process of European integration. What draws today’s attention is the distinctive economic growth of the Baltic States. On the other hand, carbon dioxide emissions in most countries in the region decreased in the analysed period, which has been a positive change. We are aware, however, that the presented analysis and conclusions can be treated only as an introduction to subsequent detailed studies of the environmental Kuznets curve concept.