Open Challenges and Novel Quantitative / Qualitative Techniques in Definition, Policy Instruments, and Measurement

Dear colleagues,

The purpose of this Special Issue is to invite papers on the general theme of open challenges in sustainability, how they can be addressed, and how these solutions or proposals can be implemented using quantitative techniques from econometrics, statistics, and related techniques. Qualitative techniques are more than welcome.

The Journal focuses on “environmental, cultural, economic, and social sustainability of human beings”. There are many issues to be explored, and to which this Special Issue is interested in:

1. What is sustainability in different contexts? For some, “sustainable development” is a contradiction in terms, as development is by definition not “sustainable”.
2. Sustainability involves dimensions from economics, the environment, and society. How can sustainability be measured in a “holistic” approach? How did it evolve over time? How it can be measured using quantitative techniques, qualitative techniques, or a mixture of both?
3. Sustainability involves many other aspects, such as cultural, human and labor rights, human relations to nature, and ecologically-conscious production and consumption, poverty, peace, security, justice, etc. How can we define sustainability in these instances, and how it can be measured?
4. What are the policy tools available to improve sustainability? How can quantitative or qualitative models be developed to address this concern? Simulation is, of course, an interesting alternative, as in scenarios about the policy instruments, we can historically examine what could have happened in terms of sustainability.
5. How can we define sustainability in tourism beyond the concept of authenticity? What are alternative definitions and methodological approaches to sustainability in fields like tourism as well as other economic sectors?
6. Can we use input–output analysis tools in the field of Sustainability? Can we use other techniques from Operations Research like efficiency and productivity measures (using either data envelopment analysis or stochastic frontier analysis)?
7. What are best practices in sustainability and how can we estimate their effect? Traditionally, best practices involve the recyclingof materials, poverty alleviation through exported recycled materials from developed to developing countries, etc. Are these practices contributing to sustainability, and how can we measure their effects?
8. Often it is recommended to use quality of life instead of standard of living. Clearly, the second is part of the first. However, is this true? What are arguments for or against, and how can one quantify them?
9. Broadly speaking, a sustainability index is an aggregate sustainability indicator that combines multiple sources of data. Here is the Consultative Group on Sustainable Development Indices^::

Is this set of indicators to be recommended as comprehensive? If so, how can one combine them optimally to obtain a precise index? If not, why not and what alternatives exist? Can Operations Research methods be used to compare and contrast different nations or regions.

1. What novel econometric and statistical methods can be developed to measure sustainability, find its determinants, and measure its impact and evolution over time; and what policy recommendations can be provided from novel, comprehensive econometric models?

Prof. Mike Tsionas
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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