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Economic Performance, Environmental Protection and Social Progress: A Cluster Analysis Comparison towards Sustainable Development

Author

Listed:
  • Idiano D’Adamo

    (Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Cristina Di Carlo

    (Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Massimo Gastaldi

    (Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Edouard Nicolas Rossi

    (Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Antonio Felice Uricchio

    (President of the Governmental Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research System (ANVUR), 00153 Rome, Italy
    University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy)

Abstract

Sustainable development monitoring reveals the extent to which local and national territories are progressing towards sustainability goals. This study considered 105 indicators associated with the Equitable and Sustainable Wellbeing (BES) framework and 139 indicators associated with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) and cluster analysis to compare regional performance across the Italian territory in 2022. At the SDG level, Lombardia exhibited the highest performance, while the provinces of Trento and Bolzano led at the BES level. The results were further analyzed with respect to geographic macro-areas and the three dimensions of sustainability, via separate cluster analyses comparing the BES and SDG results. Northeast regions emerged as the top performers, and comparable performance was shown by regions in the center and northwest. The development of a sustainable innovation model, alongside territorial cooperation and synergy between regional specificities, may generate competitive advantages, especially when combined with resources and skills with an international profile.

Suggested Citation

  • Idiano D’Adamo & Cristina Di Carlo & Massimo Gastaldi & Edouard Nicolas Rossi & Antonio Felice Uricchio, 2024. "Economic Performance, Environmental Protection and Social Progress: A Cluster Analysis Comparison towards Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-24, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:12:p:5049-:d:1414238
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    References listed on IDEAS

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