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EUROPEAN UNION AT A GLANCE published on Europa Day 2014 presents an easily understandable overview of 30 selected indicators over 28 EU countries in the time perspective, being probably the most condensed summary picture of disparities and dynamics in the EU over many domains over time.

It features innovative table-graphs for visual presentation of the 30 selected indicators over 28 countries in time, on the one hand, and selection of indicators from many domains in the spirit of Beyond GDP initiatives, on the other, from databases of many Eurostat indicators systems. The 30 time matrices give rich food for thought and imaginative readers can find numerous comparisons and stories in the material.

It is very useful for discussion of the situation in the EU in light of the forthcoming new European Commission and European Parliament and at the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the largest EU expansion in 2004.

An important point relates to the multidimensional nature of development and well-being, especially in relation to the effects of the world financial crisis. Media and official organizations focus mostly on discussion of GDP growth rate this can understate the severity of the crisis. Other domains show a more difficult situation:

• employment rate fell in 20 EU countries;
• in all 28 EU countries without exception share of gross investment in GDP decreased;
• risk of poverty as percent of total population increased in 24 EU countries;
• income distribution worsened as Gini coefficient and income quartile share ratio increased in 25 EU countries;
• healthy life years at birth decreased for males and females in 15-18 EU countries.
  (please consult S-time-matrices for indicators 5, 7, 17, 19, 20, 22, and 23)

Time and money are two most important comparators in modern society. Time distance is an innovative approach for looking at time series data. Expressed in time units, the approach is easy to understand and provides a useful complement to existing methods. The time distance approach compares time series in the horizontal dimension, i.e. for a given level of the variable, based on two novel generic statistical measures: S-time-distance and S-time-step. These measures can be derived also from a time matrix that summarises information and that provides a first-level visualization tool. It is this innovative time matrix presentation that enables condensed summary visual presentation over many countries and over time. Time Matrix Calculator software enables to calculate time matrix for your own data.

This Gaptimer Report No. 3 proceeds two earlier studies using the time distance methodology at the world level: World Inequalities in Human Development Index (1980-2012) (Gaptimer Reports) (Volume 1) and or for gender disparity How Much Longer Live Women Than Men Around the Globe?: Astonishing Differences between Countries (Gaptimer Reports) (Volume 2) that are available on Amazon.