Analysing transitions towards sustainability and human development in European regions

February 27, 2025 - Biggeri, Mario; Francescutto, Adam; Ferrone, Lucia; Ferrannini, Andrea

Journal or Book Title: REGIONAL STUDIES REGIONAL SCIENCE

DOI:10.1080/21681376.2025.2456489

Abstract: Rising social inequalities, environmental degradation and climate change are increasingly acknowledged as major threats to the long-term prosperity of modern economies. Significant attention has thus been placed on sustainability transitions in European policymaking to drive change towards a more inclusive and environmentally sustainable socio-economic system. Alongside these policy initiatives and frameworks, there has also been a rise in European tools for monitoring and measuring progress in different domains. The objective of this paper is to analyse the sustainability transition at the regional level in Europe based on a theoretical framework which links the main pillars of the sustainable development paradigm (in line with the 2030 agenda) with those of the human development paradigm. Using a dataset constructed at the nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS)2 level for 2010-2019, the Sustainable Development and Human Development Index (SDHD) is developed and a spatial and econometric analysis is applied to identify spatio-temporal trends, clustering and the main determinants and spatial spillovers among the index dimensions. This contributes to the relative gap in studies covering multiple domains of sustainability across all European regions. Results highlight strong regional inequalities in both the SDHD and four domains across Europe, with a noticeable core-periphery divide. There is evidence of convergence across the EU-27, with Eastern European regions scoring the lowest but improving the most. From a spatial fixed-effects regression model, we find significant spatial dependence among neighbouring regions and that gender gaps in the labour market, teenage fertility rates and low educational attainment are significant negative determinants of SDHD.

Type of Publication: Article

You Might Also Be Interested In

Accessibility Questions:

For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.

Tag List
  • chans,
  • coupled human and natural systems
Michigan State University
  • Spartans Will.
  • © Michigan State University

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).