A preliminary analysis of composite indicators of sustainable development

Citation

Moffatt I (2008) A preliminary analysis of composite indicators of sustainable development. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 15 (2), pp. 81-87. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504500809469772

Abstract
Preliminary quantitative analysis of 13 composite indicators for the original G7 nations for the year 2000 is presented. Using ranked data some interesting relationships between the indicators for economic, social and environmental phenomena are revealed. These indicators have been analysed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. It is shown that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is positively associated with the human development index (HDI), wellbeing (WB) and happiness (H), but strongly negatively associated with direct material consumption (DMC) and CO2 emissions in the ecological footprint (EFCO2). The DMC is negatively correlated with almost all indicators and, similarly, the ecological footprint (EF) is negatively associated with most indicators, including many environmental indicators. The quality of life (QoL) and the happiness index (H) are only weakly related. H is strongly related to ecological wellbeing (EWB) whilst the QoL is strongly associated with geobiosphere loading (GBL). The two sustainable development indicators, namely the dashboard of sustainability (DSSDI) and well being (WB) are positively associated with GDP and HDI. It is suggested that further detailed research could lead to the establishment of a single, decomposable indicator of sustainable development. It is suggested that if such a key indicator is developed then it would be useful for policy makers, as well as raising public awareness of progress in making development sustainable.

Keywords
2000; analysis; Awareness; CO2; CONSUMPTION; data; Development; Economic; ESTABLISHMENT; Happiness; INDEX; LIFE; nation; OF-LIFE; policies; Policy; PRODUCT; QUALITY; QUALITY of life; QUALITY-OF-LIFE; rank; relationship; relationships; Research; SINGLE; SUSTAINABILITY; Sustainable; Well Being; WELL-being

Journal
International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology: Volume 15, Issue 2