IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/joibpo/v4y2021i1d10.1057_s42214-020-00054-w.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evidence-based policymaking and the wicked problem of SDG 5 Gender Equality

Author

Listed:
  • Lorraine Eden

    (Texas A&M University)

  • M. Fernanda Wagstaff

    (The University of Texas at El Paso)

Abstract

Evidence-based policymaking (EBP) contends that policy decisions are successful when informed by evidence. However, where policy problems are “wicked” (systemic, ambiguous, complex, and conflictual), politics trumps evidence and solutions are never first best or permanent. Applying an EBP approach to solving wicked problems (WPs) therefore appears to be a daunting, impossible task. Despite the difficulties, we contend that blending insights from the EBP and WP literatures can provide actionable and practical policy advice to governments and MNEs for dealing with the WPs of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We support our thesis with a case study applying EBP to the WP of SDG 5 Gender Equality. We compare the statistical evidence from gender inequality indexes to SDG 5’s targets and indicators. We provide five insights from the EBP and WP literatures into why and how good evidence is necessary but not sufficient for progress on SDG 5. Building on these insights, we recommend that governments adopt an EBP approach employing public–private partnerships to address SDG 5. We also recommend that MNE executives use our new SDG Materiality Matrix, designed on EBP principles, to build SDG 5 into their global corporate social responsibility strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Lorraine Eden & M. Fernanda Wagstaff, 2021. "Evidence-based policymaking and the wicked problem of SDG 5 Gender Equality," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 28-57, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:joibpo:v:4:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1057_s42214-020-00054-w
    DOI: 10.1057/s42214-020-00054-w
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s42214-020-00054-w
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s42214-020-00054-w?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ragnar Lofstedt & Anne Katrin Schlag, 2017. "Looking back and going forward: what should the new European Commission do in order to promote evidence-based policy-making?," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(11), pages 1359-1378, November.
    2. Lorraine Eden & Bo Bernhard Nielsen, 2020. "Research methods in international business: The challenge of complexity," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(9), pages 1609-1620, December.
    3. Giada Marchi & Giulia Lucertini & Alexis Tsoukiàs, 2016. "From evidence-based policy making to policy analytics," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 236(1), pages 15-38, January.
    4. Titan Alon & Matthias Doepke & Jane Olmstead-Rumsey & Michèle Tertilt, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Gender Equality," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2020_163, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    5. United Nations UN, 2015. "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Working Papers id:7559, eSocialSciences.
    6. Alan Piper, 2019. "An Investigation into the Reported Closing of the Nicaraguan Gender Gap," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 144(3), pages 1391-1413, August.
    7. Garrett Ward Richards, 2017. "How Research-Policy Partnerships Can Benefit Government: A Win-Win for Evidence-Based Policy-Making," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 43(2), pages 165-170, June.
    8. Giada Marchi & Giulia Lucertini & Alexis Tsoukiàs, 2016. "From evidence-based policy making to policy analytics," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 236(1), pages 15-38, January.
    9. Boris Branisa & Stephan Klasen & Maria Ziegler & Denis Drechsler & Johannes Jütting, 2014. "The Institutional Basis of Gender Inequality: The Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI)," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(2), pages 29-64, April.
    10. Bull, Benedicte & McNeill, Desmond, 2019. "From market multilateralism to governance by goal setting: SDGs and the changing role of partnerships in a new global order," Business and Politics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(4), pages 464-486, December.
    11. Joshua Newman & Adrian Cherney & Brian W. Head, 2017. "Policy capacity and evidence-based policy in the public service," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(2), pages 157-174, February.
    12. Lorraine Eden, 2020. "The Social Responsibility of Multinationals: From an Afterthought to Center Stage," CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance, in: Bodo B. Schlegelmilch & Ilona Szőcs (ed.), Rethinking Business Responsibility in a Global Context, pages 1-18, Springer.
    13. Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, 2014. "Global Goals as a Policy Tool: Intended and Unintended Consequences," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(2-3), pages 118-131, July.
    14. Behague, Dominique & Tawiah, Charlotte & Rosato, Mikey & Some, Télésphore & Morrison, Joanna, 2009. "Evidence-based policy-making: The implications of globally-applicable research for context-specific problem-solving in developing countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(10), pages 1539-1546, November.
    15. Jeni Klugman & Lucia Hanmer & Sarah Twigg & Tazeen Hasan & Jennifer McCleary-Sills & Julieth Santamaria, 2014. "Voice and Agency : Empowering Women and Girls for Shared Prosperity," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 19036.
    16. Ilona Szőcs & Bodo B. Schlegelmilch, 2020. "Embedding CSR in Corporate Strategies," CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance, in: Bodo B. Schlegelmilch & Ilona Szőcs (ed.), Rethinking Business Responsibility in a Global Context, pages 45-60, Springer.
    17. Kolk, Ans, 2016. "The social responsibility of international business: From ethics and the environment to CSR and sustainable development," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 23-34.
    18. Thomas, Margo & Córdova-Novion, César & de Haan, Arjan & de León, Gimena & Forest, Maxime & Iyer, Sandhya S., 2018. "Gender mainstreaming: A strategic approach," Economics Discussion Papers 2018-61, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    19. Anita Breuer & Hannah Janetschek & Daniele Malerba, 2019. "Translating Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Interdependencies into Policy Advice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-20, April.
    20. Iñaki Permanyer, 2013. "Are UNDP Indices Appropriate to Capture Gender Inequalities in Europe?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 110(3), pages 927-950, February.
    21. Linda Hantrais & Ashley Thomas Lenihan & Susanne MacGregor, 2015. "Evidence-based policy: exploring international and interdisciplinary insights," Contemporary Social Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(2), pages 101-113, June.
    22. Jan Anton van Zanten & Rob van Tulder, 2018. "Multinational enterprises and the Sustainable Development Goals: An institutional approach to corporate engagement," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 1(3), pages 208-233, December.
    23. Steve MacFeely, 2019. "The Big (data) Bang: Opportunities and Challenges for Compiling SDG Indicators," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 10(S1), pages 121-133, January.
    24. Bull, Benedicte & Miklian, Jason, 2019. "Towards global business engagement with development goals? Multilateral institutions and the SDGs in a changing global capitalism," Business and Politics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(4), pages 445-463, December.
    25. Stewart R. Miller & Lorraine Eden & Dan Li, 2020. "CSR Reputation and Firm Performance: A Dynamic Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 163(3), pages 619-636, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jonathan P. Doh & Lorraine Eden & Anne S. Tsui & Srilata Zaheer, 2023. "Developing international business scholarship for global societal impact," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(5), pages 757-767, July.
    2. Rekha Rao-Nicholson & Htwe Htwe Thein & Yifan Zhong, 2024. "A thematic analysis of the links between multinational enterprises’ corporate social responsibility and the Sustainable Development Goals in Myanmar," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(2), pages 203-223, June.
    3. Josilene Aires Moreira & Catarina Sales Oliveira, 2022. "Quantifying for Qualifying: A Framework for Assessing Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-24, October.
    4. Kiefner, Valentin & Mohr, Alexander & Schumacher, Christian, 2022. "Female executives and multinationals’ support of the UN's sustainable development goals," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(3).
    5. Lorraine Eden & Charles F. Hermann & Stewart R. Miller, . "Evidence-based policymaking in a VUCA world," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    6. Natalia Yakovleva & Diego Alfonso Vazquez-Brust & Francis Arthur-Holmes & Kwaku Abrefa Busia, 2022. "Gender equality in artisanal and small-scale mining in Ghana: Assessing progress towards SDG 5 using salience and institutional analysis and design," Post-Print hal-04702883, HAL.
    7. Khadija Straaten & Rajneesh Narula & Elisa Giuliani, 2023. "The multinational enterprise, development, and the inequality of opportunities: A research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(9), pages 1623-1640, December.
    8. Rob Van Tulder & Suzana B. Rodrigues & Hafiz Mirza & Kathleen Sexsmith, 2021. "The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: Can multinational enterprises lead the Decade of Action?," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 1-21, March.
    9. Ivan Montiel & Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra & Junghoon Park & Raquel Antolín-López & Bryan W. Husted, 2021. "Implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(5), pages 999-1030, July.
    10. Fernhaber, Stephanie A. & Zou, Huan, 2022. "Advancing societal grand challenge research at the interface of entrepreneurship and international business: A review and research agenda," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(5).
    11. Matevž Rašković, 2022. "International business policymaking for a “wicked” world," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(3), pages 353-362, September.
    12. Kimitaka Nishitani & Akira Kawaguchi, 2022. "Mitigating Gender Inequality in the Workplace: Toward Sustainable Development Through Institutional Changes," Discussion Paper Series DP2022-07, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University, revised May 2022.
    13. Beloskar, Ved Dilip & Haldar, Arunima & Gupta, Anupama, 2024. "Gender equality and women’s empowerment: A bibliometric review of the literature on SDG 5 through the management lens," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    14. Songhee Kang & Jörn Altmann & Gangmin Park, 2024. "Empirical Analysis of the Effect of an Evidence-Based Policy for a Wicked Problem—Lessons Learned from the South Korean Industry Policy History for the Structural Reform of Subcontracting Practice in ," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 12809-12829, September.
    15. Khadija Straaten & Niccolò Pisani & Ans Kolk, 2024. "Parenthood wage gaps in multinational enterprises," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 55(6), pages 805-815, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lorraine Eden & M. Fernanda Wagstaff, 0. "Evidence-based policymaking and the wicked problem of SDG 5 Gender Equality," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 0, pages 1-30.
    2. Ivan Montiel & Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra & Junghoon Park & Raquel Antolín-López & Bryan W. Husted, 2021. "Implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(5), pages 999-1030, July.
    3. Niraja Srinivasan & Lorraine Eden, 2021. "Going digital multinationals: Navigating economic and social imperatives in a post-pandemic world," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(2), pages 228-243, June.
    4. Jan Anton van Zanten & Rob van Tulder, 2020. "Beyond COVID-19: Applying “SDG logics” for resilient transformations," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(4), pages 451-464, December.
    5. Kyoko Sasaki & Wendy Stubbs & Megan Farrelly, 2023. "The relationship between corporate purpose and the sustainable development goals in large Japanese companies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(5), pages 2475-2489, September.
    6. Lartey, Theophilus A. & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Danso, Albert & Adomako, Samuel & Khan, Zaheer & Tarba, Shlomo Y., 2021. "Environmental sustainability practices and offshoring activities of multinational corporations across emerging and developed markets," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(5).
    7. Rob Van Tulder & Suzana B. Rodrigues & Hafiz Mirza & Kathleen Sexsmith, 2021. "The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: Can multinational enterprises lead the Decade of Action?," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 1-21, March.
    8. Helen Ngozi ELEMS-IKWEGBU, Ph.D, 2024. "Comparative Analysis of Educational Policy Formulation and Implementation Strategies in Developed and Developing Countries," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 11(7), pages 922-941, July.
    9. Rekha Rao-Nicholson & Htwe Htwe Thein & Yifan Zhong, 2024. "A thematic analysis of the links between multinational enterprises’ corporate social responsibility and the Sustainable Development Goals in Myanmar," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(2), pages 203-223, June.
    10. Benedict E. DeDominicis, 2021. "Multinational Enterprises And Economic Nationalism: A Strategic Analysis Of Culture," Global Journal of Business Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 15(1), pages 19-66.
    11. Maria Franca Norese & Diana Rolando & Rocco Curto, 2023. "DIKEDOC: a multicriteria methodology to organise and communicate knowledge," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 325(2), pages 1049-1082, June.
    12. Bu, Maoliang & Xu, Liang & Tang, Ryan W., 2023. "MNEs’ transfer of socially irresponsible practices: A replication with new extensions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(2).
    13. Chiara Mio & Silvia Panfilo & Benedetta Blundo, 2020. "Sustainable development goals and the strategic role of business: A systematic literature review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3220-3245, December.
    14. Pei Sun & Jonathan P. Doh & Tazeeb Rajwani & Donald Siegel, 2021. "Navigating cross-border institutional complexity: A review and assessment of multinational nonmarket strategy research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(9), pages 1818-1853, December.
    15. Luis Fonseca & Vitor Silva & José Carlos Sá & Vanda Lima & Gilberto Santos & Rui Silva, 2022. "B Corp versus ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications: Aligned, or alternative paths, towards sustainable development?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 496-508, May.
    16. Olivier E. Malay, 2021. "How to Articulate Beyond GDP and Businesses’ Social and Environmental Indicators?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 1-25, May.
    17. Marika Arena & Giovanni Azzone & Sara Ratti & Valeria Maria Urbano & Giovanni Vecchio, 2023. "Sustainable development goals and corporate reporting: An empirical investigation of the oil and gas industry," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 12-25, February.
    18. Eunice Williams & Heini Vaisanen & Sabu S. Padmadas, 2022. "Women's economic empowerment in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from cross-national population data," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 47(15), pages 415-452.
    19. Soliman, Salma & Papanastassiou, Marina & Saka-Helmhout, Ayse, 2023. "The role of subsidiaries in Global Value Chains (GVCs): An institutional voids perspective on LVC upgrading and integration," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(2).
    20. Salia, Samuel & Hussain, Javed & Tingbani, Ishmael & Kolade, Oluwaseun, 2017. "Is women empowerment a zero Sum game? Unintended Consequences of microfinance for Women’s empowerment in Ghana," MPRA Paper 82895, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 23 Aug 2017.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:joibpo:v:4:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1057_s42214-020-00054-w. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.