TY - JOUR
T1 - Reimagining Sustainable Development and Economic Performance Indicators
T2 - A Human-Centric Maslow–Bossel Blueprint
AU - Panagiotopoulos, Panagiotis
AU - Vardopoulos, Ioannis
AU - Maialetti, Marco
AU - Ciaschini, Clio
AU - Koundouri, Phoebe
AU - Salvati, Luca
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by the authors.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Reflecting the shift from purely quantitative economic growth to broader socio-environmental sustainability, this study proposes a framework for assessing sustainable development (SD) by integrating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs with Bossel’s classification system. As economic development increasingly emphasizes sustainability, numerous organizations and agencies, including the United Nations, have developed indicators to measure sustainable progress. However, subjective dimensions of SD, grounded in individual values and needs, remain underexplored. This study operationalizes Maslow’s “pyramid of needs” alongside Bossel’s system to establish an “SD pyramid”, distinguishing dimensions and indicators that capture social, economic, and environmental complexity. By mapping human needs onto the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this study contributes to delineating (i) the research areas uncovered (or partly covered) with relevant indicators, (ii) a significant lack or partial shortage of pertinent information, and (iii) a combination of a few basic indicators summarizing the necessary information into a unique measure of SD. The outcomes offer a foundation for a quali-quantitative assessment of SD, enhancing the monitoring tools focusing on subjective and contextual needs.
AB - Reflecting the shift from purely quantitative economic growth to broader socio-environmental sustainability, this study proposes a framework for assessing sustainable development (SD) by integrating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs with Bossel’s classification system. As economic development increasingly emphasizes sustainability, numerous organizations and agencies, including the United Nations, have developed indicators to measure sustainable progress. However, subjective dimensions of SD, grounded in individual values and needs, remain underexplored. This study operationalizes Maslow’s “pyramid of needs” alongside Bossel’s system to establish an “SD pyramid”, distinguishing dimensions and indicators that capture social, economic, and environmental complexity. By mapping human needs onto the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this study contributes to delineating (i) the research areas uncovered (or partly covered) with relevant indicators, (ii) a significant lack or partial shortage of pertinent information, and (iii) a combination of a few basic indicators summarizing the necessary information into a unique measure of SD. The outcomes offer a foundation for a quali-quantitative assessment of SD, enhancing the monitoring tools focusing on subjective and contextual needs.
KW - Bossel’s classification
KW - economic sustainability
KW - Maslow’s hierarchy
KW - performance indicators
KW - policy targets
KW - SDGs
KW - socio-environmental complexity
KW - sustainability metrics
KW - sustainable development
U2 - 10.3390/economies12120338
DO - 10.3390/economies12120338
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85213056850
SN - 2227-7099
VL - 12
JO - Economies
JF - Economies
IS - 12
M1 - 338
ER -