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Assessing Progress Towards SDGs Implementation Using Multiple Reference Point Based Multicriteria Methods: The Case Study of the European Countries

Author

Listed:
  • E. Ricciolini

    (University of Perugia
    Universidad de Málaga)

  • L. Rocchi

    (University of Perugia)

  • M. Cardinali

    (University of Perugia)

  • L. Paolotti

    (University of Perugia)

  • F. Ruiz

    (University of Málaga)

  • J. M. Cabello

    (University of Málaga)

  • A. Boggia

    (University of Perugia)

Abstract

To achieve the UN 2030 Agenda Goals, and considering their complexity and multidisciplinary, Multi-criteria analysis appears to be a suitable approach to give a true support to public decision makers in defining policy lines. This study focuses on the application of the Multiple Reference Point Weak-Strong Composite Indicators (MRP-WSCI) and its partially compensatory version (MRP-PCI), to assess, in the framework of the UN 2030 Agenda, the sustainability of the 28 members of the European Union (pre-Brexit). Countries were analyzed and compared according to their conditions and progress against the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, considering three reference years: 2007, 2012 and 2017. The analysis shows that Nordic countries reach a good level of global sustainability, with values of the indicators, W-W-W and S-W-W, between 2 and 3; while the States of east Europe, in particular Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, stay at the worst levels, having overall indicators values less than 1.5. Furthermore, the results highlight how countries in the lower group have difficulties especially in social and economic sustainability. On the other hand, states with a good overall condition record the worst results in the environmental dimension, such as the Netherlands, which shows, for the year 2017, a value for this sphere less than 2, while in the other two show a good value (over 2.5).

Suggested Citation

  • E. Ricciolini & L. Rocchi & M. Cardinali & L. Paolotti & F. Ruiz & J. M. Cabello & A. Boggia, 2022. "Assessing Progress Towards SDGs Implementation Using Multiple Reference Point Based Multicriteria Methods: The Case Study of the European Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1233-1260, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:162:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s11205-022-02886-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-022-02886-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Idiano D’Adamo & Massimo Gastaldi, 2022. "Sustainable Development Goals: A Regional Overview Based on Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Lucia Rocchi & Elena Ricciolini & Gianluca Massei & Luisa Paolotti & Antonio Boggia, 2022. "Towards the 2030 Agenda: Measuring the Progress of the European Union Countries through the SDGs Achievement Index," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Maria-Glòria Barberà-Mariné & Laura Fabregat-Aibar & Valeria Ferreira & Antonio Terceño, 2024. "One Step Away from 2030: An Assessment of the Progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the European Union [A un paso de 2030: Una evaluación del progreso de los Objetivos de Desarrollo S," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(6), pages 1372-1397, December.
    4. de Castro-Pardo, Mónica & Cabello, José Manuel & Martín, José María & Ruiz, Francisco, 2023. "A multi reference point based index to assess and monitor European water policies from a sustainability approach," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    5. Marianela Carrillo, 2022. "Measuring Progress towards Sustainability in the European Union within the 2030 Agenda Framework," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-23, June.
    6. Denise Anselmi & Idiano D’Adamo & Massimo Gastaldi & Ginevra Virginia Lombardi, 2024. "A comparison of economic, environmental and social performance of European countries: a sustainable development goal index," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(8), pages 20653-20677, August.
    7. Ali Nawaz Khan, 2024. "Unexpected Ally: Can Social Exclusion Boost Quality of Life Through Green Choices?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 175(1), pages 295-315, October.

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