Institutional Pressures, Sustainable Development Goals and COVID-19: How Are Organisations Engaging?

Bárbara Galleli, Elder Semprebon, Joyce Aparecida Ramos dos Santos, Noah Emanuel Brito Teles, Mateus Santos de Freitas-Martins and Raquel Teodoro da Silva Onevetch
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Bárbara Galleli: Business Department, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba 80210-170, Brazil
Elder Semprebon: Business Department, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba 80210-170, Brazil
Joyce Aparecida Ramos dos Santos: Business Department, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba 80210-170, Brazil
Noah Emanuel Brito Teles: Business Department, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba 80210-170, Brazil
Mateus Santos de Freitas-Martins: Business Department, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba 80210-170, Brazil
Raquel Teodoro da Silva Onevetch: Business Department, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba 80210-170, Brazil

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-21

Abstract: This article aimed at answering the following research question: How do institutional pressures influence the engagement of organisations with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic? To address it, we applied a survey with Brazilian organisations in late 2020. From group analysis and the comparison of means (test-t), we conclude that, in the pandemic scenario, organisations from various sectors and industries are affected mainly by coercive pressures but also by normative and, to a lesser extent, mimetic pressures. Furthermore, this study has shown that while opportunities are arising from normative and mimetic institutional pressures, it is in the coercive pressures that the guidance lies for the re-establishment of economic, social, and environmental development and prosperity in a post-pandemic scenario. Thus, despite some optimistic results, achieving the purpose outlined by the 2030 Agenda seems to be distant or at least needs an even more substantial effort if its responsibility rests solely with legislative and governmental forces.

Keywords: sustainable development; 2030 Agenda; coronavirus; survey; group analysis; global compact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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