Governance quality and the sustainable development goals

An assessment in Europe

Bibliographic Data

ID20201182
AuthorsMarco Bisogno (0000-0003-3155-2919, University of Salerno), Beatriz Cuadrado-Ballesteros (0000-0003-3606-2302, Universidad de Salamanca), Francesca Manes Rossi (0000-0001-9617-4379, University of Naples Federico II Department of Economics, Management, Institutions), Noemi Peña-Miguel (0000-0003-3259-7289, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) Faculty of Economics and Business, Accounting and Business Administration Techniques)
Year2025
Volume37
Issue6
Pages193-219
Publication date2025-12-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Public Budgeting Accounting & Financial Management (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1096-3367 • E-ISSN: 1945-1814
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/jpbafm-01-2025-0018
OpenAlexW4411707171
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited73

Purpose This research empirically investigates whether governance quality plays a role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach Referring to the policy process theory framework and using the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGIs) model, the study examines data from 35 European countries over the period 2015–2022, resulting in a panel dataset comprising 245 observations. The SDG Index, published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, is used to measure progress toward SDG achievement. Findings The findings document a nexus between governance quality and SDG achievement. More concretely, countries with more transparency, governance stability and effectiveness, better regulatory systems and corruption control tend to achieve more significant progress toward sustainable development, especially in the social and economic goals. Originality/value Literature on SDGs is growing, but only a few studies have examined the role of good governance quality. This study contributes to this emerging literature strand and expands a line of research discussing how enhancing the quality of governance can facilitate SDG achievement

Business · Corporate governance · Economics · Environmental economics · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Political science · Sustainable development · Environmental Science · Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth · Local Government Finance and Decentralization · Philosophy · Public Policy and Administration Research

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access