Structure of the population or economic conditions? Determinants of spending on social protection in the European Union

The paper examines the relationship between dependent variables (spending on social protection and spending benefits) that capture economic structure of population activity example panel data 26 European Union (EU) countries (except for Bulgaria Croatia) over years 2000-2017. In particular, is analysed by age dependency ratio, while expressed real GDP per capita growth rate unemployment rate. Regardless estimation technique specifications with transformed to first differences, results study indicate a statistically significant association macroeconomic conditions EU countries. By contrast, relationships ratios are positive but generally insignificant, although undergoing advanced processes ageing.