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The Political Economy of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Does Performance on the SDGs Affect Re-Election?

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  • Christian Kroll

    (SDG Index & Dashboards, 10117 Berlin, Germany)

  • Vera Zipperer

    (Faculty of Economics and Management, Technical University, 10623 Berlin, Germany
    DIW Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

While the economic voting hypothesis is a well-researched approach to explain behavior at the ballot box, a broader perspective of economic, social and environmental issues regarding a government’s chances to get re-elected is still missing in the literature. In this context, this paper makes use for the first time of the Agenda 2030 with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the comprehensive policy framework that all 193 UN member states have pledged to achieve. The objective of our study is therefore to examine the relationship between SDGs’ progress and the likelihood of re-election. Our analysis of 124 countries regarding performance on the SDGs over time and voting behavior shows: the chance to get re-elected as a government significantly increases for progress made towards SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Notable differences are also found for high-income vs. low-income countries. The fact that governments are rewarded at the ballot box for successful action towards gender equality is encouraging, while the mechanisms behind other SDG areas deserve more research.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Kroll & Vera Zipperer, 2020. "The Political Economy of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Does Performance on the SDGs Affect Re-Election?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:16:p:6445-:d:397058
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    1. Michael Lewis-Beck & Mary Stegmaier, 2013. "The VP-function revisited: a survey of the literature on vote and popularity functions after over 40 years," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 157(3), pages 367-385, December.
    2. Michael M. Bechtel & Jens Hainmueller, 2011. "How Lasting Is Voter Gratitude? An Analysis of the Short‐ and Long‐Term Electoral Returns to Beneficial Policy," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(4), pages 852-868, October.
    3. Bornier Jean Magnan de & Norpoth H. & Lewis-Beck M.S. & Lafay J.D., 1991. "Economics and Politics The calculus of support," Journal des Economistes et des Etudes Humaines, De Gruyter, vol. 2(4), pages 1-3, December.
    4. Christian Kroll & Anne Warchold & Prajal Pradhan, 2019. "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Are we successful in turning trade-offs into synergies?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-11, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Songul Gul, 2023. "Factors That Influence the Life Satisfaction of Afghan Refugees Living in Eastern Turkey: The Role of Their Migration Causes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-17, October.

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