Beyond reporting: What drives performance data use in sustainability management? Empirical evidence from U.S. cities

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ABSTRACT As local governments increasingly use data to improve sustainability outcomes, this research explores how institutional conditions may assist such efforts. To that end, it tests several hypotheses based on two prominent organizational theories: rational choice and sociological institutionalism. Using the original data that surveys how U.S. cities collect and use performance data when managing sustainability programs (n = 443), this research finds that cities are more likely to use information when certain institutional conditions are present, among which social institutions particularly matter. These findings are discussed by integrating insights from public management and sustainability literature.