2026
Importance of Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 4 in Relation to overall Sustainable Development
DRASTICHOVÁ, Magdaléna and Jiří FIŠERBasic information
Original name
Importance of Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 4 in Relation to overall Sustainable Development
Authors
DRASTICHOVÁ, Magdaléna and Jiří FIŠER
Edition
PROBLEMY EKOROZWOJU – PROBLEMS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, 2026, 1895-6912
Other information
Language
English
Type of outcome
Article in a journal
Country of publisher
Poland
Confidentiality degree
is not subject to a state or trade secret
References:
Impact factor
Impact factor: 1.100 in 2024
Organization unit
Moravian Business College Olomouc
Changed: 13/1/2026 11:15, Ing. Michaela Nováková
Abstract
In the original language
This study investigated the importance of Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 4 for overall sustainable devel-opment. Hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to the healthcare systems of 31 European countries, including all EU member states as well as theUnited Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland. The analysis covers the years 2014 and 2019–2022 and is based on indicators of population health status (life expectancy, healthy life years, perceived health), tertiary educational attainment, preventableand treatable mortality, and healthcare ex-penditure.The results reveal a consistent division into two main clusters. Cluster 1 is composed primarily of Western and Northern European countries, along with high-performing non-EU states such as Switzerland, and is characterized by stronger health outcomes, higher education levels, and greater healthcare expenditure. Cluster 2 consists largely of Central and Eastern European member states, which systematically report weaker results across most indicators. In addition, smaller clusters (Clusters 3 and 4) emerge in specific years, grouping countries with distinctive pro-files. These include high-performing countries such as Ireland, Luxembourg, and Cyprus, as well as countries with relatively high educational attainment but lower health outcomes, such as Latvia and Lithuania.Comparison with established healthcare system classifications confirms the relevance of these patterns. The best-performing clusters overlap with advanced Bismarck and Beveridge systems, the high-capacity groups identified by Reibling et al. (2019), and the higher-expenditure groups of Di Gioacchino et al. (2024). Conversely, weaker clusters, particularly those in Central and Eastern Europe, align with Bismarck or mixed models, Etatist Social Health Insurance systems, or low-supply systems, and are typically associated with lower healthcare expenditure.Overall, the findings highlight persistent regional divides in healthcare performance.