Glossary

People

At-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate – percent of persons who are: at risk of poverty or severely materially deprived or living in households with very low work intensity.

At-risk-of-poverty rate after social transfers – percentage of persons whose equivalised disposable income (after accounting for social transfers) is below the poverty threshold set at 60% of the national median equivalised disposable income after social transfers.

Extreme poverty rate – percentage of persons in households where the level of expenditures (including a value of free-of-charge articles as well as natural consumption) is lower than the adopted extreme poverty threshold (subsistence minimum), setting the level of satisfaction of needs below which occurs a biological threat to life and psychophysical human development. The starting point adopted for constituting the extreme poverty threshold is subsistence minimum estimated by the Institute of Labour and Social Studies for the 1-person employees' household and then this value is multiplied by the number of persons in the household according to the original OECD equivalence scale.

Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) – a tool developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to measure individuals’ experiences related to lack of access to food. It is based on eight questions asked to respondents aged 15 and older, and captures both moderate and severe levels of food insecurity:

• moderate food insecurity refers to situations in which a person experiences limitation in the quantity or quality of food consumed; this may involve skipping meals, reducing portion sizes, eating less nutritious food, or uncertainty about food availability; the person may feel hungry, but typically does not yet face a complete lack of food;
• severe food insecurity relates to more extreme experiences, such as going an entire day or longer without eating’ it indicates serious and repeated shortages of food that may lead to hunger.

Food security – according to the FAO, it is a situation in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Four main dimensions of food security are distinguished: food availability, access to food (both physical and financial), proper food utilization, and the stability of these conditions over time. In contemporary understanding, the concept also encompasses the ability to make autonomous food-related choices as well as environmental protection and care for future generations.

Gender employment gap – difference in the employment level between men and women within a specific age group, expressed as percentage points.

Gender pay gap – the difference between the average gross hourly earnings of men and women expressed as a percentage of the average gross hourly earnings of men.

Gini coefficient – the measure of income distribution inequality; it ranges between 0 and 100. This indicator would be 0 (homogenous distribution) if all the persons had the same income, whereas it would be 100 if all the persons except one had 0 income. Thus the higher the indicator, the higher the income concentration and therefore, the greater the income inequalities.

Global Food Security Index (GFSI) – a tool assessing the level of food security in 113 countries worldwide. It is developed by Economist Impact, supported by Corteva Agriscience, and is based on four key areas: affordability, food availability, quality and safety, as well as sustainability and adaptability of the food system. The index is constructed using 68 quantitative and qualitative indicators that allow for comparisons between countries.

Healthy life expectancy – predicted average number of years a person aged x will live without a disability, provided that the current conditions of mortality and loss of health of the population will remain at the current level.

Housing cost overburden rate – according to the Eurostat, percentage of the population living in households where the total housing costs ('net' of housing allowances) represent more than 40% of disposable income ('net' of housing allowances).

Individuals' level of digital skills – a measure of the level of digital skills among EU residents (aged 16-74); based on selected activities related to the use of the Internet or software in five areas:

• information and data use,
• communication and collaboration,
• digital content creation,
• safety,
• problem solving.

For each area, two skill levels are calculated (basic and above basic), and based on them, a general digital skills indicator is developed. This indicator classifies individuals on a seven-level scale that distinguishes the following levels of digital skills:

• above basic – possessing all digital skills,
• basic – possessing all digital skills but with at least one at the basic level,
• low – possessing four out of five digital skills,
• narrow – possessing three out of five digital skills,
• limited – possessing two out of five digital skills,
• none – possessing one or no digital skills.

Inequality of income distribution S80/S20 (income quintile share ratio) – ratio of total income received by the 20% of population with the highest income (top quintile) to that received by the 20% of population with the lowest income (lowest quintile).

Legal poverty rate – percentage of persons in households where the level of expenditures (including a value of free-of-charge articles as well as natural consumption) is lower than the so-called 'legal' poverty threshold, i.e. the amount which, according to the Law on Social Assistance, provides eligibility for a monetary benefit from social assistance.

Life expectancy at birth – an average number of years of life expected by a person aged 0, assuming the mortality rate from the period for which the life expectancy table was prepared.

Material deprivation – lack of ability to fulfill needs regarded as basic in European conditions due to financial problems.

Noncommunicable diseases – also called diseases of the 21st century according to the WHO, are globally and commonly occurring chronic diseases whose development and spread are caused by the advancement of modern civilization combined with genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors. They include, among others, diseases of the circulatory system, malignant neoplasms, diseases of the respiratory system, and diabetes mellitus.

Overcrowding rate – percentage of the population living in an overcrowded household, i.e. one that does not have at least:

• one room for the household,
• one room by couple in the household,
• one room for each single person aged 18 and more,
• one room by pair of single people of the same sex between 12 and 17 years of age,
• one room for each single person between 12 and 17 years of age and not included in the previous category,
• one room by pair of children under 12 years of age.

Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) – an international study coordinated by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). The objective of the programme is to assess students’ ability to apply their knowledge and skills acquired both in and outside school in three areas: reading and interpreting texts, mathematics, and scientific reasoning. The survey covers a representative sample of students aged 15–16. It has been conducted since 2000, every three or four years.

Relative poverty rate – percentage of persons in households where the level of expenditures (including a value of free-of-charge articles as well as natural consumption) is lower than the relative poverty threshold, adopted at 50% mean monthly expenditures at the level of all households estimated with the use of the so-called original OECD equivalence scale.

Severe housing deprivation rate – according to the Eurostat, percentage of population living in the dwelling which is considered as overcrowded, while also exhibiting at least one of the housing deprivation measures. Housing deprivation is a measure of poor amenities and is calculated by referring to those households with a leaking roof, no bath/shower and no indoor toilet, or a dwelling considered too dark.

Severe material and social deprivation rate – percentage of the population experiencing the inability, due to financial reasons, to satisfy at least 7 out of 13 material and social needs (6 related to the individual and 7 related to the household), considered by most people as desirable or even essential for an adequate life. List of items:

at the household level:

• capacity to face unexpected expenses,
• capacity to afford paying for one week annual holiday away from home,
• capacity to being confronted with payment arrears (on mortgage or rental payments, utility bills, hire purchase instalments or other loan payments),
• capacity to afford a meal with meat, chicken, fish or vegetarian equivalent every second day,
• ability to keep home adequately warm,
• have access to a car/van for personal use,
• replacing worn-out furniture,

at individual level:

• replacing worn-out clothes by some new ones,
• having two pairs of properly fitting shoes (including a pair of all-weather shoes),
• spending a small amount of money each week on him/herself,
• having regular leisure activities,
• getting together with friends/family for a drink/meal at least once a month,
• having internet connection.

Prosperity

Activity rate by LFS – share of the economically active population by LFS (of a given category) in the total population by LFS (of a given category).

Electricity – form of primary or derived (secondary) energy. "Primary" electricity is obtained from natural sources such as water, wind, solar energy, tidal and wave energy. "Secondary" electricity is produced from heat generated in the process of burning primary (coal, natural gas) or derived fuels, as well as renewable energy carriers and combustible waste. "Secondary" electricity can also be produced from geothermal or solar heat.

Employment rate by LFS – share of the employed people by LFS (of a given category) in the total population by LFS (of a given category).

Energy commodity – all products involved directly or indirectly in the processes of transferring various forms of energy from their original sources to the point of use.

Expected duration of working life – the estimated number of years that a person, at the current age of 15 years, is expected to be in the labour force throughout his or her life; the indicator is calculated based on the economic activity rate from the Labor Force Survey (LFS) and life tables.

Exposure concentration ceiling – the concentration of a substance in the air determined on the basis of the national exposure average indicator, set to limit the harmful effects of a given substance on human health, which is to be achieved by a specified deadline. The exposure concentration ceiling constitutes an air quality standard.

Gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) – the total amount of intramural expenditure on R&D activities carried out within the territory of a given country during a specified reporting period. GERD includes R&D activities performed domestically but financed from abroad, while excluding expenditures on R&D carried out abroad. GERD is the main indicator of R&D activity. GERD consists of:

• BERD – business enterprise expenditure on R&D
• GOVERD – government sector expenditure on R&D
• HERD – higher education sector expenditure on R&D
• PNPERD – private non-profit sector expenditure on R&D.

Innovation – business innovation is a new or improved product or business process (or combination thereof) that differs significantly from the firm's previous products or business processes and that has been introduced on the market or brought into use by the firm.

Long-term unemployment rate – the share of unemployed persons seeking work for a period of 13 months or more (12 months or longer according to Eurostat) in the total labour force.

National exposure reduction target – the percentage reduction of the national average exposure indicator for the reference year, aimed at limiting the harmful effects of a given substance on human health, to be achieved by a specified deadline.

Patents granted – the right to use the invention exclusively for a commercial or professional purpose within the territory of the country. European patent is a patent granted by the European Patent Office covering selected member states of the European Patent Organization.

R&D personnel – include all persons engaged directly in R&D, whether employed by the statistical unit or external contributors fully integrated into the statistical unit's R&D activities, as well as those providing direct services for the R&D activities (such as R&D managers, administrators, technicians and clerical staff).

Renewable energy source – a source that, in the transformation process, uses wind energy, solar radiation, geothermal energy, wave, current and tidal energy, river drop energy, as well as energy obtained from biomass, landfill gas, and biogas produced in processes of wastewater discharge or treatment, or from the decomposition of stored plant and animal remains.

Solid fossil fuels – all types of hard coal, lignite and coal products such as coke, tar and coal briquettes.

Solar photovoltaic – sunlight converted into electricity by the use of solar cells usually made of semiconducting material which exposed to light will generate electricity.

Unemployment rate by LFS – share of the unemployed by LFS (of a given category) in the economically active population by LFS (of a given category).

Planet

Areas of special bird protection (SPAs) – the areas specified pursuant to the EU regulations on protection of populations of wild birds of one or more species, where the birds enjoy favourable conditions throughout their entire lifecycle, at any period or stage of their growth.

Areas of special habitat protection (SACs) – the areas specified pursuant to the EU regulations for the purpose of permanent preservation of natural habitats or populations of endangered species of plants or animals or for the purpose of restoration of a proper condition of natural habitats or proper condition of protection of these species.

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) – the amount of oxygen consumed over a specified period for the aerobic oxidation of organic substances contained in water or wastewater using living bacteria and extracellular enzymes.

Consumption footprint – a composite indicator made up of 16 sub-indicators, covering, among other factors, pollutant emissions to air, soil and water, as well as the resources consumed throughout the life cycle of 160 products representative of five areas of consumption: food, mobility, housing, appliances, and household goods.

Decoupling – separation of economic growth from environmental pressure. It occurs, among others, in situations where GDP grows faster than raw material consumption (so-called relative decoupling) or when GDP grows while raw material consumption remains at the same level or decreases (so-called absolute decoupling).

Food waste index – the amount of food wasted across the entire value chain, including production facilities, retail and distribution, restaurants and food service establishments, as well as households.

Greenhouse gases – natural and anthropogenic gaseous constituents of the atmosphere which absorb and re-emit infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases refer to carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O) and industrial gases: hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).

Major mineral waste – waste generated in mining and extraction of mineral resources, as well as waste from the construction, renovation, and demolition of buildings.

Material footprint – the quantity of raw materials required to meet the demand for goods in a given economy. It also includes materials needed for the production and logistics of goods not used directly within the country (e.g. those consumed in the manufacturing and transport of imported goods).

Material reuse rate – an indicator that measures the proportion of recovered materials re entering the economy (thereby reducing the need to extract primary raw materials) as a share of total material consumption.

Monitoring of forests – a system for assessing the forest environment and the health condition of forest stands, operating on the basis of continuous or periodic observations and measurements of selected indicators on permanent observation plots. The substantive supervision of forest monitoring in Poland is performed by the Forest Research Institute.

Municipal waste – waste generated in households, excluding end-of-life vehicles or generated by other waste producers (excluding hazardous waste) which on the account of its character and composition is similar to waste from households.

Natura 2000 site – an area established to protect populations of wild birds, natural habitats, or species of interest to the European Union. The Natura 2000 network includes Special Protection Areas for birds, Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), and Sites of Community Importance. A Natura 2000 site may cover part or all of areas and objects subject to other forms of nature protection (except for species protection of plants, animals, and fungi).

Particulate matter (PM) – air pollutants consisting of a mixture of very small solid and liquid particles, composed of both organic and inorganic substances. Toxic chemical compounds harmful to human health are carried on the particle surfaces, including heavy metals (arsenic, nickel, cadmium, lead) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g. benzo[a]pyrene). Within particulate matter, a fraction with particle diameters below 10 micrometres (PM10) is distinguished, which includes a sub fraction with diameters below 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5).

Resource productivity – the ratio of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to Domestic Material Consumption (DMC), which includes all materials used directly for the needs of the national economy.

Small retention objects – buildings and equipment for retaining most of the water in its surface and subsurface circulation. They are: artificial water reservoirs with a capacity of up to 5 million cubic meters, fish ponds, independent damming structures and water intakes, and other water damming or water transporting structures.

Surface water – means inland waters, except groundwater (all standing or flowing water on the surface of the land); transitional waters and coastal waters, except in respect of chemical status for which it shall also include territorial waters.

Uniform surface water body – a distinct and significant element of surface waters, such as a lake, reservoir, stream, river, or canal; a part of a stream, river, or canal; transitional waters or a strip of coastal waters, as well as dam reservoirs.

Value chain – encompasses all stages of production and delivery of a product or service to the final consumer.

Water exploitation index, plus (WEI+) – the percentage share of actual water consumption in the renewable water resources of a given area on an annual basis. Actual consumption is calculated as the difference between total water abstraction and the amount returned to the environment, i.e. the volume discharged back into rivers, lakes or groundwater after use (e.g. by agriculture, industry or households). Index values above 20% indicate the presence of water stress, while values above 40% indicate severe water scarcity.

Water stress – the percentage share of total water abstraction (groundwater or surface water) in the total volume of available renewable water resources (including inflows from neighboring countries); it refers to a situation in which the amount of water of adequate quality is insufficient to meet the needs of people and the environment.

Peace

Control of Corruption – one of the indicators under the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) project of the World Bank. It assesses the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as the capture of the state by elites and private interests. It also reflects the effectiveness of anti-corruption mechanisms and institutional transparency. The scale ranges from -2.5 (very low control of corruption) to +2.5 (very high control of corruption).

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) – an indicator developed by Transparency International and published by Eurostat as a tool for monitoring corruption in the public sector. It reflects the overall level of perceived corruption based on assessments by experts, analysts, and business representatives. The scale ranges from 0 to 100, describing the degree of transparency: the higher the score, the lower the level of corruption in public administration.

Government Effectiveness – one of the indicators under the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) project of the World Bank. It measures the quality of public services, the effectiveness of the civil service, the competence of public officials, and the degree of independence of the public administration from political pressures. It also reflects the quality of policy formulation and implementation. The index shows the efficiency of institutions in performing their functions and the overall reliability of state governance. The scale ranges from -2.5 (lowest effectiveness) to +2.5 (highest effectiveness).

Regulatory Quality – one of the indicators under the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) project of the World Bank. It assesses the government’s ability to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that promote private sector development and innovation. It reflects the ease of doing business, regulatory transparency, and the legal environment conducive to entrepreneurship. The scale ranges from -2.5 (lowest regulatory quality) to +2.5 (highest regulatory quality).

Partnership

Eastern Partnership – a political initiative of the European Union launched in 2009, aimed at deepening cooperation with six countries of Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus through support for reforms, economic integration, the development of civil society and approximation to EU norms and standards. It covers activities carried out both at the bilateral level and within a multilateral framework that enables exchange of experience and joint projects.

General government debt – the government debt is defined as the total consolidated gross debt at nominal (face) value at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA 2010): currency and deposits (AF.2), debt securities (AF.3) and loans (AF.4).

General government deficit/surplus – the government deficit/surplus is the net borrowing/net lending (B.9) of general government, as defined in the ESA 2010. It is the difference between the revenue and the expenditure of the general government sector.

Official development assistance (ODA) – financial and technical support provided by government institutions of donor countries to developing countries or to international organisations, whose primary objective is to promote economic development and social welfare. It includes both bilateral assistance (provided directly to a specific partner country) and multilateral assistance implemented through international organisations. It covers, among others, grants, concessional loans and contributions to development institutions that meet the eligibility criteria of the OECD Development Assistance Committee.