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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 18 May 2025 | Viewed by 9207

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Dr. Jungsuk Kim

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Guest Editor

Economic Department, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
Interests: fiscal policy; demography studies; sustainable economic growth
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the complex journey of global progress, development economics and sustainable economic growth are powerful forces shaping how societies evolve. Development economics carefully looks at how economies grow in the context of making society better. It blends smoothly with sustainable economic growth, which aims to achieve long-lasting prosperity without harming the environment, causing social inequalities or disrupting economic balance.

(1) Introduction

Development economics is a multidisciplinary field that investigates the economic aspects of societal progress, with a focus on improving the living standards of individuals in developing countries. Sustainable economic growth, a critical facet of development, emphasizes long-term economic expansion that considers environmental, social, and economic dimensions. In recent years, the intersection of development economics and sustainable economic growth has garnered increased attention. As the global community grapples with pressing challenges such as poverty alleviation, inequality reduction, and environmental sustainability, understanding the intricate dynamics between economic development and sustainability becomes imperative. This Special Issue seeks to delve into the nuanced relationships between development and sustainability, exploring how economic policies and strategies can be tailored to foster growth while ensuring environmental integrity and social equity. We hope that the outcomes of this research will contribute significantly to the design of informed, sustainable development policies with lasting positive impacts.

(2) Aim of the Special Issue

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for scholars, researchers, and practitioners to contribute cutting-edge research that advances our understanding of the interplay between development economics and sustainable economic growth. By disseminating high-quality research, we aim to inform policymakers, academics, and practitioners about effective strategies and best practices that promote inclusive, sustainable development. The topics covered in this Special Issue align seamlessly with the broader scope of Sustainability. As a leading journal in development and sustainable growth, Sustainability is committed to publishing research that addresses contemporary challenges and contributes to the advancement of knowledge. This Special Issue on development economics and sustainable economic growth aligns with the journal's mission to disseminate research at the intersection of theory and practice, providing valuable insights for both academics and practitioners.

(3) In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Inclusive growth strategies: examining policies that promote economic growth while ensuring inclusivity and reducing income inequality.
Environmental sustainability and economic development: investigating the impact of economic activities on the environment and proposing sustainable development pathways.
Innovations in development finance: exploring new financing mechanisms that support sustainable economic growth in developing countries.
Social capital and economic development: analyzing the role of social networks and institutions in fostering economic development.
Technology and sustainable growth: assessing the contribution of technology to economic growth and its potential for sustainable development.
Governance and institutional quality: investigating the influence of governance and institutional quality on economic development outcomes.

By addressing these themes, contributors to this Special Issue will provide valuable insights into the complex relationship between development economics and sustainable economic growth, contributing to the academic discourse and informing practical strategies for policymakers and practitioners.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Jungsuk Kim
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sustainability
economic growth
economic development

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of the Coupling Coordination Degree of Human Capital and Infrastructure on High-Quality Economic Development: Empirical Evidence from Chinese Cities

by Jinqi Chen and Lingying Pan

Sustainability 2024, 16(20), 8905; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16208905 - 14 Oct 2024

Viewed by 647

Abstract

China’s economy is transitioning from high-speed to high-quality development, making coordination between economic factors increasingly important. Human capital (HC) and infrastructure (INFRA) are important elements of economic development, and the coupling coordination of the two can have a non-negligible impact on regional economies’ high-quality development. Therefore, this study measures the coupling coordination degree (CCD) of HC and INFRA based on data of 184 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2019, and comprehensively examines the impact effect and mechanism of the CCD on high-quality economic development (HQED). The relevant results are threefold. (1) Compared with single factors, the degree of HC-INFRA CCD can promote HQED more efficiently. (2) A significant single-threshold effect is evident in the promotion of HQED by the degree of HC-INFRA CCD, and a smaller city size and more extensive higher education institutions promote a stronger threshold effect. (3) Factor allocation and factor efficiency are significant transmission mechanisms of the HC-INFRA CCD affecting HQED, and the mediating effect of the capital-labor force allocation path accounts for 66.28% of the total indirect effect. The results provide empirical evidence verifying that HC-INFRA CCD promotes HQED, along with insightful reference suggestions for formulating relevant macro policies and promoting high-quality urban economic development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development Economics and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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26 pages, 1177 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Savings and Sustainable Economic Growth Nexus: A South African Perspective

by Richard Wamalwa Wanzala and Lawrence Ogechukwu Obokoh

Sustainability 2024, 16(20), 8755; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16208755 - 10 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1108

Abstract

The savings behavior of individuals has been a topic of both macroeconomic and policy importance throughout history. Theoretical and empirical research shows that savings result from several demographic and economic factors working together to produce long-term, sustainable economic growth. This study therefore examined the nexus between domestic savings and sustainable economic growth in a South African perspective between 1990–2023, emphasizing the critical role that savings play in fostering long-term economic stability and environmental resilience. The ARDL framework was used to analyze data from the World Bank and the South African Reserve Bank. The results of the study demonstrate that corporate savings have a major effect on sustainable economic growth, especially over the long term. When corporate savings rise by 1%, the economy expands by 3.12%, which highlights the significant multiplier effect of investment. The extent of this impact depends on factors such as the efficiency of capital allocation, technological capacity, financial market development, government policies, and macroeconomic stability. These factors collectively determine how effectively corporate savings are transformed into productive investments that drive sustainable economic growth. Conversely, savings made by the government and the public, especially in the long run, have no appreciable impact on sustainable economic growth. Given that domestic savings mobilization is the most suitable channel for financing capital accumulation to support economic growth and development, the study suggests reviewing current policies to encourage domestic savings mobilization. This paper contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable economic policies in emerging markets, offering actionable insights for policymakers, financial institutions, and stakeholders promoting a more sustainable economic future for South Africa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development Economics and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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18 pages, 4110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Is It Possible to Establish an Economic Trend Correlating Territorial Assessment Indicators and Earth Observation? A Critical Analysis of the Pandemic Impact in an Italian Region

by Maria Prezioso

Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8695; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198695 - 9 Oct 2024

Viewed by 672

Abstract

The paper is set within the methodological framework of the Territorial Impact Assessment (TIA) process, which is an instrument designed to facilitate sustainable and cohesive policy-making choices at the European level. The article is developed within the context of a European H2020-RICE cooperative project, which utilises the STeMA (Sustainable Territorial Economic/Environmental Management Approach) TIA methodology to investigate the potential relationship between statistical economic indicators, specifically Gross Domestic Product, and related parameters (metadata), and Earth Observation (EO) data. The objective is to provide evidence of socioeconomic trends during the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic in the Lazio Region (Italy), with a particular focus on the metropolitan area of the Rome capital city Rome. In line with the pertinent European context and the scientific literature on the subject, the paper examines the potential for combining classical and Earth observation indicators to assess macroeconomic dimensions of development, specifically in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). The results of the analysis indicate the presence of certain correlations between grey data and EO information. The STeMA-TIA approach allows for the measurement and correlation of both qualitative and quantitative statistical indicators with typological functional areas (in accordance with European Commission-EC and Committee of Ministers responsible for Spatial/Regional Planning—CEMAT guidance) at the NUTS (Nomenclature des unités territoriales statistiques) 2 and 3 levels. This facilitates the territorialisation of information, enabling the indirect comparison of data with satellite data and economic trends. A time series of data was gathered and organised for the purpose of facilitating comparison between different periods, beginning with 2019 and extending to the present day. In order to measure and monitor the evolution of the selected territorial economies (the Lazio Region), a synthetic index (or composite indicator) was developed in the economic and epidemic dimensions. This index combines single values of indicators according to a specific STeMA methodology. It is important to note that there are some critical observations to be made about the impact on GDP, due to the discrepancy between the indicators in the two fields of observation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development Economics and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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23 pages, 555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

People Category of UN SDGs 2030 and Sustainable Economic Growth in Asia and the Pacific Region

by Muhammad Sajjad Ashraf, Farhan Ahmed, Shazia Kousar, Paulo Jorge Silveira Ferreira and Dora Maria Fortes de Almeida

Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 7950; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16187950 - 11 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1013

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of the people category of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on sustainable and conventional economic growth in Asia and the Pacific region, using a sample of 52 selected countries between 2000 and 2023. Employing two distinct models, model A1 for conventional economic growth and model A2 for sustainable economic growth, we explained the relationships between five SDG indicators: employed poverty rate, stunted children, expenditure on health, expenditure of education, and % of women MNAs on economic growth. This study employed a fixed-effect model and random-effect model to investigate the impact of the people category SDGs on traditional and sustainable economic growth. The comparative analysis of each SDG in both models revealed valuable insights. SDG 1, “employed poverty rate”, has a positive impact on economic growth in both models, while SDG 2, “percentage of stunted child”, did not significantly influence economic growth in either model. Moreover, SDG 3 and SDG 4, relating to “government’s health expenditure per capita” and “government’s Education education expenditure per capita”, respectively, exhibited a positive impact on traditional and sustainable economic growth. Conversely, SDG 5, “percentage of women members of national parliament”, displayed an insignificant impact on traditional and sustainable economic growth models. In conclusion, this study suggests that policymakers should prioritize targeted interventions to alleviate employed poverty, enhance healthcare, and boost education spending. Moreover, promoting women’s representation in national parliaments should be approached with context-specific strategies to maximize its impact on economic growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development Economics and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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14 pages, 1004 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability of the Current Account in Developing Countries: A Fourier Wavelet-Based Unit Root Test

by Erhan Oruç

Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7300; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177300 - 25 Aug 2024

Viewed by 865

Abstract

The sustainability of the current account balance for five fragile economies—Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, India, and Türkiye (namely, BASIT)—is investigated. These countries’ economies operate under a time current account deficit almost all the time, a condition that causes fragility to external shocks; the following fallout from these shocks may risk not only the domestic economy but also the international economy, such as by clogging trade and income distribution. In this study, the sustainability of the current account in BASIT countries is examined via wavelet-based Kapetanios, Shin and Snell (WKSS) and Fourier wavelet-based KSS (FWKSS) unit root tests, in conjunction with linear unit root tests. Even though traditional unit root tests generally support the sustainability of a current account deficit for all countries, a non-linear unit roots test confirms the traditional tests for only India and South Africa. Results from the wavelet transform of non-linear unit root tests indicate the unsustainability of the current account balance, except in the case Türkiye. Moreover, the FWKSS test confirms WKSS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development Economics and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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27 pages, 991 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foreign or Domestic Public Debt for Cameroon’s Development? An Externality Approach

by Nelson Derrick Nguepi, Ibrahim Ngouhouo and Irina Bilan

Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 7169; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167169 - 21 Aug 2024

Viewed by 934

Abstract

Public debt plays a major role in financing projects that support economic growth and sustainable development. As governments may choose between domestic and external borrowing, a comprehensive assessment of their effects would support this choice. Our study provides an integrative view of economic and social outcomes and compares, through externalities, the impacts of external and domestic public debt as methods of financing development, with a focus on the Cameroonian economy. Utilizing a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model and a microsimulation analysis, we find that domestic debt has more advantages for Cameroon compared to external debt, as it increases the large-scale economic impact by improving household welfare, boosting GDP growth, and progressively reducing poverty and inequality. It is therefore recommended that the Cameroonian government focus on increasing the use of domestic debt as a method of financing development by implementing policies that support domestic saving and promote the development of domestic debt markets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development Economics and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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21 pages, 596 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Industrial Robots on Labor Income Share: Empirical Evidence from Chinese A-Listed Companies

by Junhong Du, Chuanyue Zhao, Yingying Hu and Xiaohong Chen

Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 6928; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166928 - 13 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1139

Abstract

Based on data from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) and Chinese A-Share Listed Companies 2011–2019, this paper evaluates how the penetration of industrial robots in China affects the labor income share from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. We first develop a theoretical framework considering robots in the task model, consider different tasks matching different types of labor, construct a labor income share model including robots based on the task model, and perform a theoretical analysis finding that industrial robots can improve labor income. Then, we explore the mechanism of labor price distortion as an intermediate variable that can reduce the labor income share, finding that robots are able to effectively reduce the negative impact of labor price distortions on labor income share. After correcting for potential endogeneity problems, the results confirm a positive, significant, and lasting impact of industrial robot penetration on labor income share, confirming that labor price distortion is the underlying mechanisms through which the robots can effectively reduce the negative impact of labor price distortions on labor income share. At the same time, the impact of robots on firms’ labor income shares varies significantly across different regions, external financial dependence, and skill premiums. Our findings can help the government to provide a decision-making basis for how industrial robots can better serve people in the new century, ensuring that people can share in the achievements of economic development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development Economics and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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19 pages, 606 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Poverty in the Kazakhstan Regions: Assessing the Influence of Key Indicators on Differences in Its Level

by Zaure Chulanova, Nursaule Brimbetova, Azimkhan Satybaldin and Aisulu Dzhanegizova

Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 6752; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166752 - 7 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1071

Abstract

Modern Kazakhstan is characterized by significant regional socioeconomic differences due to climatic conditions, natural resources, migration, and regional specialization. The persistence of these regional differences can lead to increased stratification of society, social tension, and disruption of the country’s economic stability. These issues have intensified under the influence of Industry 4.0 trends and geopolitical processes in the region. Among the various sources of social inequality, we have chosen to focus on the problem of population poverty in our study. Addressing this problem is crucial for taking a comprehensive approach to addressing regional disparities in social development. The purpose of our study is to determine and assess the features of poverty in the regions of Kazakhstan. Our research methodology is based on evaluating the integral poverty index using four indicators: the share of the population with incomes below the subsistence level, the population under 60 years of age, youth aged 15–17 who are not working or studying, and the unemployment rate in the regions of Kazakhstan. Based on these indicators, we grouped the regions according to their poverty level, identified and compared regional differences, and identified the most vulnerable areas in need of intervention. This approach has enabled us to propose appropriate instruments of state support for different territories and promote inclusive regional development to overcome social imbalances. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development Economics and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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20 pages, 13194 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“County-to-City Upgrading” Policy and Firm Innovation—Evidence from China

by Yida Song

Sustainability 2024, 16(12), 5080; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125080 - 14 Jun 2024

Viewed by 922

Abstract

The “County-to-City Upgrading” policy represents a typical tool for central and local governments to promote the urbanization process through administrative empowerment. Do local governments’ policies promote innovation-driven high-quality and sustainable development? Under the context of the high-quality development of China’s economy, this paper examines the quantitative impact of the local governments’ “County-to-City Upgrading” policy on enterprises’ innovation. Using a staggered-DID model and the data from the Chinese Patent Database and the Industrial Enterprise Database from 2000 to 2013, the baseline results indicate that the policy not only increases the quantity of innovation but also improves the quality of innovation. The key findings of the research are the following: (1) The policy primarily promotes innovation activities among local enterprises through the cost reduction effect and resource accumulation effect. (2) The policy has a more significant impact on boosting innovation in the eastern regions as well as areas with stronger intellectual property protection. (3) The policy not only can advance technological and practical innovation but can also help enterprises overcome the problem of technological containment. (4) The policy has a prominent impact on green and low-carbon patents, which implies that it has become a significant drive pushing forward local green and sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development Economics and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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