Navigating the Convergence of Global Competitiveness and Sustainable Development: A Multi-Level Analysis

Arman Canatay (), Leonel Prieto and Muhammad Ruhul Amin
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Arman Canatay: Anisfield School of Business, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah, NJ 07430, USA
Leonel Prieto: A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX 78041, USA
Muhammad Ruhul Amin: Department of Business Administration, College of Business, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN 37209, USA

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-39

Abstract: Sustainable Development (SD) involves multiple factors and different perspectives that are critical to individuals, organizations, regions, countries, and the world. Even though relationships among Global Competitiveness, the Macroeconomic Environment, and SD dimensions, encompassing 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are critical, for national and global policymaking, many of these relationships have not been studied systematically nor at different aggregation levels. Therefore, this study examines the relationships among the Global Competitiveness pillars (e.g., Institutions, Infrastructure, Education, Technology, Business Sophistication, and Innovation) and the Macroeconomic Environment and the SD dimensions (Social, Economic, and Environmental) using various models. Additionally, this study examined three country clusters (very-competitive, competitive, and less competitive). The PLS-SEM analysis used 11-year data from 128 countries. The results showed variability in the relationships studied as well as differences between country clusters and countries. The findings may be applicable for policymakers in reflecting and acting on the specificity of national SD, determining SD priorities for the future, as well as reflecting and acting on integrating national SD into global SD.

Keywords: sustainable development; global competitiveness; macroeconomic environment; multi-level analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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