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SDG4 Academic Research Productivity in the EU27: Economic Factors and COVID-19 Impacts

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Title: SDG4 Academic Research Productivity in the EU27: Economic Factors and COVID-19 Impacts
Language: English
Authors: Nikša Alfirević, Lena Malešević Perović, Maja Mihaljević Kosor
Source: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 2026 27(1):237-253.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Research, Research Problems, Productivity, Government Role, Research Opportunities, Financial Support, COVID-19, Pandemics, Economic Factors, Environmental Influences, Performance Factors, Sustainable Development
Geographic Terms: European Union
DOI: 10.1108/IJSHE-08-2023-0366
ISSN: 1467-6370
1758-6739
Abstract: Purpose: This paper aims to examine the factors influencing 2018-2022 research productivity related to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) in the EU-27 considering the COVID-19 epidemic. Design/methodology/approach: This paper applies the two-panel estimators to bibliometric data from Scopus and relevant indicators, focusing on the previously achieved scientific productivity levels, national GDP, government education expenditures and the COVID-19 contingency variables. This study addresses the information gap regarding pertinent elements influencing SDG4 research productivity. Findings: Research productivity in SDG4 is negatively impacted by government spending on education and the SDG4 goal score and positively impacted by the lagged number of prior SDG4 publications and GDP per capita. Research limitations/implications: The robustness of the results across several panel estimators, the necessity of evaluating interactions with other SDGs and the possibly restricted generalizability of the findings outside the EU-27 sample are limitations acknowledged in this work. Originality/value: Nations with high levels of SDG4 implementation are becoming less interested in conducting related studies or hinting at a possible systemic mismatch between research and policy at the EU level. The COVID-19 epidemic has had a positive effect on SDG4 research output, indicating that external obstacles to the research process should be contextualized by examining a range of contingency elements in addition to being perceived as general obstacles.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1503619
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: SDG4 Academic Research Productivity in the EU27: Economic Factors and COVID-19 Impacts
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nikša+Alfirević%22">Nikša Alfirević</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lena+Malešević+Perović%22">Lena Malešević Perović</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maja+Mihaljević+Kosor%22">Maja Mihaljević Kosor</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Sustainability+in+Higher+Education%22"><i>International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 27(1):237-253.
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  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 17
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research%22">Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+Problems%22">Research Problems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Productivity%22">Productivity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Government+Role%22">Government Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+Opportunities%22">Research Opportunities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Financial+Support%22">Financial Support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19%22">COVID-19</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pandemics%22">Pandemics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+Factors%22">Economic Factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+Influences%22">Environmental Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Performance+Factors%22">Performance Factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sustainable+Development%22">Sustainable Development</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22European+Union%22">European Union</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1108/IJSHE-08-2023-0366
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1467-6370<br />1758-6739
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: This paper aims to examine the factors influencing 2018-2022 research productivity related to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) in the EU-27 considering the COVID-19 epidemic. Design/methodology/approach: This paper applies the two-panel estimators to bibliometric data from Scopus and relevant indicators, focusing on the previously achieved scientific productivity levels, national GDP, government education expenditures and the COVID-19 contingency variables. This study addresses the information gap regarding pertinent elements influencing SDG4 research productivity. Findings: Research productivity in SDG4 is negatively impacted by government spending on education and the SDG4 goal score and positively impacted by the lagged number of prior SDG4 publications and GDP per capita. Research limitations/implications: The robustness of the results across several panel estimators, the necessity of evaluating interactions with other SDGs and the possibly restricted generalizability of the findings outside the EU-27 sample are limitations acknowledged in this work. Originality/value: Nations with high levels of SDG4 implementation are becoming less interested in conducting related studies or hinting at a possible systemic mismatch between research and policy at the EU level. The COVID-19 epidemic has had a positive effect on SDG4 research output, indicating that external obstacles to the research process should be contextualized by examining a range of contingency elements in addition to being perceived as general obstacles.
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        Value: 10.1108/IJSHE-08-2023-0366
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
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        PageCount: 17
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research
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      – SubjectFull: Research Problems
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      – SubjectFull: Productivity
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      – SubjectFull: Research Opportunities
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      – SubjectFull: Financial Support
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      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
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      – SubjectFull: Pandemics
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      – SubjectFull: Economic Factors
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      – SubjectFull: Environmental Influences
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      – SubjectFull: Performance Factors
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      – SubjectFull: Sustainable Development
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      – SubjectFull: European Union
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      – TitleFull: SDG4 Academic Research Productivity in the EU27: Economic Factors and COVID-19 Impacts
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