The Spatial Spillover Effects of Public Sector Transparency on Advancing Africa's Sustainable Development Goals

Bibliographic Data

ID12307152
AuthorsS Murat Kara (0000-0003-2289-2911, Balıkesir University), Suat Kara (Department of International Trade and Logistics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Balikesir University Balikesir Türkiye), Yücel Oğurlu (Department of Administrative Law, Faculty of Law Balikesir University Balikesir Türkiye), Emran Hossain (0000-0001-6882-0177, Advanced Research Centre European University of Lefke Lefke Northern Cyprus Turkey, corresponding author), Md Emran Hossain (0000-0002-1750-7284, European University of Lefke, corresponding author), Mohammed Alnour (0000-0003-3276-7380, Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Balikesir University Balikesir Türkiye), Soumen Rej (0000-0001-9098-9286, Amity Business School, Amity University Kolkata Kolkata India), Abdalla Sirag (0000-0003-4486-2836, College of Economics and Management Al Qasimia University Sharjah United Arab Emirates)
Year2025
Publication date2025-12-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSustainable Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0968-0802 • E-ISSN: 1099-1719
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/sd.70589
OpenAlexW7116695243
LanguageEN
References cited52

Africa faces significant challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), amid widespread corruption, weak governance, and political instability. This study innovatively explores the spatial spillover effects of public sector transparency—proxied by the corruption perceptions index (CPI)—alongside rule of law and political stability, on key sustainable development metrics, including the sustainable development index (SDI), CO 2 emissions, and ecological footprint. By highlighting these interconnections in Africa's SDG context, it addresses a critical gap in understanding how governance reforms can propagate across borders to foster regional progress. Drawing on panel data from 42 African countries spanning 2012 to 2022, the analysis employs spatial econometric models to capture spatial dependencies. Key findings reveal that the rule of law exerts a significant positive direct effect on SDI (0.024% total increase per 1% improvement) but insignificant spillovers. Enhanced public sector transparency (CPI) elevates CO 2 emissions primarily through spillovers, while the rule of law reduces ecological footprint via indirect effects. Income and population growth positively drive SDI with stronger spillovers yet exhibit mixed environmental impacts. These results underscore the interconnected governance‐sustainability nexus in Africa, advocating regional anti‐corruption and institutional reforms to harness positive spillovers for equitable green growth and SDG attainment

Corporate governance · Index (typography · Nexus (standard · Panel data · Population · Rule of law · Spillover effect · Sustainable development · Transparency (behavior · Corruption and Economic Development · Economic Growth and Development · Energy, Environment, Economic Growth

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