Circular Economy and Job Creation: A Comparative Approach in an Emerging European Context

The circular economy encompasses a systematic approach to sustainable development that enables countries, companies, and consumers to reduce environmental damage and to close the life cycle of products. Our paper investigates the main challenges facing Eastern European countries, particularly Romania, in the development of the circular economy while identifying potential solutions and the most appropriate public policy measures in this field. This research aims to highlight the unique perspectives of Romanian scholars on the circular economy experiences of former communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe, focusing on the opportunities and challenges these nations face as newer EU members. The research’s main finding is that while the implementation of circular economy principles in Romania is difficult due to legal, cultural, and financial barriers, leveraging EU financial support can lead to the creation of labour market opportunities and sustainable economic growth. Also, our second finding shows that an increase in research activity and a better focus on practical implementation strategies are needed to fully achieve the potential of the circular economy in Romania.