Assessing the Europe 2020 strategy implementation using interval entropy and cluster analysis for interrelation between two groups of headline indicators

Abstract

The research analyzes the progress of Member States in the implementation of Europe 2020 strategy targets and goals in 2016–2018. Multiple criteria decision-making approaches applied for this task. The set of headline indicators was divided into two logically explained groups. Interval entropy is proposed as an effective tool to make prioritization of headline indicators in separate groups. The sensitivity of the interval entropy is its advantage over classical entropy. Indicator weights were calculated by applying the WEBIRA (weight-balancing indicator ranks accordance) method. The WEBIRA method allows the best harmonization of ranking results according to different criteria groups—this is its advantage over other multiple-criteria methods. Final assessing and ranking of the 28 European Union countries (EU-28) was implemented through the α-cut approach. A k-means clustering procedure was applied to the EU-28 countries by summarizing the ranking results in 2016–2018. Investigation revealed the countries–leaders and countries–outsiders of the Europe 2020 strategy implementation process. It turned out that Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Austria during the three-year period were the countries that exhibited the greatest progress according to two headline indicator groups’ interrelation. Cluster analysis results are mainly consistent with the EU-28 countries’ categorizations set by other authors.