Regional Development Toward Sustainable Growth

A special issue of World (ISSN 2673-4060).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2027 | Viewed by 673

Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Politics and Governance and the Division of Multidisciplinary Studies in Social Science, Ashkelon Academic College, Ashkelon 7823224, Israel
Interests: China’s foreign policy in the Middle East–North Africa (MENA); China’s non-intervention policy in intrastate wars

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Guest Editor
Division of International Relations, School of Political Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3103301, Israel
Interests: causes of war and peace; conflict resolution; mediation; theories in international relations; leaders; civil wars; state building

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Regional development has emerged as a critical paradigm in contemporary economic and environmental policy, representing the intersection of spatial economics, sustainability science, and governance theory. As global challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and social inequality intensify, the traditional growth-focused development models are increasingly recognized as insufficient for long-term prosperity. This research area addresses the fundamental question of how regions can achieve economic advancement while maintaining ecological integrity and social equity.

The scientific foundation of sustainable regional development draws from multiple disciplines, including ecological economics, urban planning, innovation systems theory, economics, political science, and institutional analysis. Recent scholarship has emphasized the importance of place-based approaches that leverage local assets, capabilities, and knowledge systems while addressing specific regional challenges and opportunities. The concept integrates economic competitiveness with environmental stewardship and social cohesion, recognizing that sustainable growth requires balancing multiple objectives across different temporal and spatial scales.

This Special Issue contributes to the growing body of knowledge by examining innovative frameworks, methodologies, and case studies that demonstrate pathways toward sustainable regional development. The research is particularly timely given the urgent need for evidence-based strategies that can guide policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders in creating resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible regional economies.

We welcome theoretically driven and empirically sophisticated contributions to this Special Issue. These can be general in nature, or regionally focused, comparative case studies, or single cases.

Dr. Mordechai Chaziza
Dr. Carmela Lutmar
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • sustainable regional development
  • economic–environmental policy
  • social equity and resilience
  • governance and institutional analysis
  • climate-resilient economies
  • regional cooperation
  • economic diplomacy
  • energy governance
  • disaster diplomacy
  • small states and economic cooperation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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22 pages, 1343 KB  
Systematic Review
Sustainable Business Models: Bridging Theory and Practice Through an Integrative Conceptual Review
by Timur Kogabayev, Bakytzhan Akan, Assel Akan, Meruyert Bekturganova and Rando Värnik
World 2026, 7(8), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/world7080139 - 7 Aug 2026
Abstract
Sustainable business models (SBMs) describe how organizations create, deliver, and capture value while simultaneously generating economic, environmental, and social benefits for a broad set of stakeholders. Although the field has expanded rapidly since the late 2000s, the literature remains conceptually dispersed: definitions proliferate, [...] Read more.
Sustainable business models (SBMs) describe how organizations create, deliver, and capture value while simultaneously generating economic, environmental, and social benefits for a broad set of stakeholders. Although the field has expanded rapidly since the late 2000s, the literature remains conceptually dispersed: definitions proliferate, design tools and archetypes coexist without integration, and findings on the link between sustainability practices and firm performance remain inconsistent. To address this fragmentation, this study conducts a PRISMA 2020-guided systematic literature review of foundational and recent contributions published between 2008 and 2025. Of 300 records identified through database searching, 30 studies met the eligibility criteria and were synthesized qualitatively; these are interpreted together with complementary theoretical and methodological literature. Rather than reporting bibliometric indicators, the review synthesizes the field across three dimensions: the evolution of the SBM concept, its dominant design logics and archetypes, and its contemporary thematic landscape. The findings trace a progression from foundational triple-bottom-line conceptualization, through archetype- and tool-based design approaches such as the Triple-Layered Business Model Canvas and pattern taxonomies, toward digitally enabled, circular, and resilience-oriented models. These patterns are interpreted through complementary theoretical lenses—the resource-based and natural-resource-based views, dynamic capabilities, information-processing theory, and stakeholder theory. The review consolidates these insights into an integrative conceptual framework that links theoretical foundations, value-design dimensions, enabling capabilities, and triple-bottom-line outcomes. It further discusses implications for managers and outlines a research agenda emphasizing digital and circular enablers, longitudinal designs, and the under-examined context of emerging markets, with an applied emphasis on Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional Development Toward Sustainable Growth)
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