Comparative analysis and evaluation of the effectiveness of demographic policies in EU countries (2009-2010).
OBJECTIVE
This article contains a comparative analysis and evaluation of the effectiveness of population policies in European Union (EU) countries, using multivariate analysis.


METHODS
To study these differences, it is primarily necessary to have the relevant data. The most recent database available was developed by the OECD in 2007 and currently covers OECD countries and most EU Member States. We used multivariate analysis to categorize the indicators into the following groups: (a) economic indicators, (b) indicators reconciling work and family life, and (c) demographic indicators.


RESULTS
The results of measuring the degree of coherence of factors reveal that the four most important factors influencing the effectiveness of population policy are (i) the average maternal age at first childbirth, (ii) social protection expenditure, (iii) GDP, and (iv) public spending for benefits. Based on the data from the evaluation of the correlation matrix of variables and data, the classification of countries, according to the values of the coefficients of analysis, appears as follows: the Nordic countries (together with France and the United Kingdom), the Southern European countries and the Northern countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (by a very slight margin Romania), and Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia (and, marginally, Malta).


CONCLUSIONS
The key comparative findings from benchmarking best practices in the context of the European experience are the following: The EU is being demographically transformed as a direct result of an increase in average life expectancy and immigration and a decrease in fertility. Demographic factors are influenced by specific features, in contrast with economic factors which seem be less stable.
Associate Professor of Department of Health Care and Social Units Administration, Faculty of Management and Economics, Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Athens, Athens, Greece.
George
G
Pierrakos
Member of the Institute for Social Policy, National Centre for Social Research, Athens, Greece.
Dionyssis
D
Balourdos
Professor of Department of Health Care and Social Units Administration, Faculty of Management and Economics, Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Sotiris
S
Soulis
Professor of Department of Health Care and Social Units Administration, Faculty of Management and Economics, Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Markos
M
Sarris
Lecturer of Department of Department of Health Care and Social Units Administration, Faculty of Management and Economics, Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Athens, Athens, Greece.
John
J
Pateras
Director of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helena Venizelou Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Panagiotis
P
Skolarikos
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helena Venizelou Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Athanasios
A
Farfaras
D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003710:Demography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004467:Economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005062:European Union / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D059066:Gross Domestic Product; D006801:Humans; D057766:Policy; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012946:Social Welfare; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors