Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic created huge challenges for all European Union Member States and their economies. The first year of the pandemic resulted in negative changes in regard to GDP dynamics, industrial production, production in construction, as well as general government sector balance, public debt and labor market situation. The article aims to explore and assess disparities in development of the 27 European Union countries with the application of two selected methods of taxonomic research: Hellwig’s taxonomic measure of development (TMD) and standard deviations’ method. Research was conducted for 2019 (the last pre-pandemic year) and 2020 (the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic). Statistical information provided by EUROSTAT and Central Statistical Office was used for the analysis. Multidimensional comparative analysis indicated that during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic the highest level of TMD was characteristic for: Ireland, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, while the lowest level of TMD was recorded for: Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia. The application of standard deviations’ method indicated that Ireland, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands formed a 4-element G4 class, while Italy, Spain, Greece and Croatia created a 4-element G1 class in 2020.