Quantifying Bioeconomy capacity in rural Europe: An index-based comparative analysis

This study examines the uneven capacity of EU Member States to implement Bioeconomy policies in rural areas by developing a composite Bioeconomy Policy Implementation Capacity Index (BPICI). Using 2023 data from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, the index integrates five dimensions: government effectiveness, regulatory quality, control of corruption, access to credit, and agricultural transformation intensity. The comparative results reveal sharp structural asymmetries: France demonstrates systemic readiness with high institutional effectiveness and market capacity, Bulgaria occupies an intermediate position with partial agrarian transformation but persistent governance deficits, while Romania records the lowest score due to limited institutional quality and economic diversification. The findings highlight the risks of a uniform EU policy model, and underscore the need for context-sensitive strategies that account for institutional and structural conditions. The BPICI contributes methodologically to indicator-based modeling of institutional capacity and offers a tool for strategic planning and policy monitoring.