AN ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EXPENDITURE EVOLUTION IN ROMANIA

Abstract

In the context of sustainable development, environmental policy plays a fundamental role, being one of the major challenges within the EU. In this European framework, and beyond, the objectives of Romania's sustainable economic development policy include among the priority objectives the intensification of environmental protection actions. Starting from these aspects, the paper analyzes the evolution of environmental protection expenditures by producer and environmental categories. In the analyzed period, total expenditure has been on an upward trend. A first regression occurred during the economic crisis, after which the allocated funds increased, but a new decline began in 2012. To highlight developments in these expenditures, they were analyzed by the main categories of producers (Unspecialized Producers, Specialized Producers, and Public Administration) and fields (Air, Water, Waste, Soil and underground water, Noise and vibration, Natural resources and biodiversity).