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

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.