Abstract
An Input-State-Output framework has been recently introduced to investigate the multidimensional aspects of sustainability (namely environmental, social and economic ones) of economic systems through a thermodynamically and logically ordered scheme. This approach facilitates the convergence of information from sets of indicators without aggregating results into single numbers and, consequently, losing information. In this paper we experiment the application of the Input-State-Output framework for regional systems. In particular the 20 regions of Italy will be investigated, categorized and compared with each other. A triad of indicators is selected and calculated to represent the dimensions of sustainability. For the environmental dimension (input) we use Emergy, an energy-based accounting method that takes into account the flows of energy and matter feeding the system per unit time; for the social dimension (state) we use the Gini Index of income distribution as a proxy of the health status of a society as a whole and its organization; for the economic dimension (output) we use the Gross Regional Product or a similar measure, which represents the economic result of the system. As a general result, we identify and discuss the position of the systems under study, by means of the three coordinates within a 3D space, as well as the weaknesses and strengths of each indicator. We believe that this approach is able to give a more complete and rational view of sustainability. The application at the regional level can be of great help in identifying priorities and possible policies at both national and sub-national level.
Highlights
The performances of a national or regional system can be measured in many different ways, but the priority given to the economic signals, such as growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), per capita income or similar entities, over social, and environmental ones is evident
In the case presented here, we selected a triad of systemic indicators representative of the three dimensions of sustainability: the emergy flow supporting the territories as input indicator; the Gini index of income distribution as state indicator; the Gross Regional Product, or regional GDP, as output indicator
The emergy flow at both national and regional scale has been calculated based on a range of data from 2009 to 2014 from different sources, depending on data availability; data on the regional GDP and the Gini index of income distribution has been collected from ISTAT for the year 2012
Summary
The performances of a national or regional system can be measured in many different ways, but the priority given to the economic signals, such as growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), per capita income or similar entities, over social, and environmental ones is evident. Among others, are the Stiglitz Commission established in France (Stiglitz et al, 2009), the development of the BES framework (acronym for Benessere Equo e Sostenibile, i.e., equitable and sustainable well-being; see ISTAT CNEL., 2013, 2014; ISTAT., 2016), defined as “a measurement tool for progress in Italy” (Riccardini and De Rosa, 2016), and the UN—Sustainable Development Goals initiative (UN., 2015 see http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/ sustainable-development-goals/) These experiences resulted from a combined action of experts in economic policy, indicators, management, social an environmental problems on one side, and govern leaders interested in their application, on the other. The consistency of given actions or programs may be determined on the basis of the trend of SDG indicators (Eurostat., 2018; see ASviS., 2018 for the case of Italy)
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