Abstract
PurposeThis study aims to analyze the socio-ecological policy trade-off caused by technological innovations in the post-COVID-19 era. The study outcomes are utilized to design a comprehensive policy framework for attaining sustainable development goals (SDGs).Design/methodology/approachStudy is done for 100 countries over 1991–2019. Second-generation estimation method is used. Innovation is measured by total factor productivity, environmental quality is measured by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and social dimension is captured by unemployment.FindingsInnovation–CO2 emissions association is found to be inverted U-shaped and innovation–unemployment association is found to be U-shaped.Research limitations/implicationsThe study outcomes show the conflicting impact of technological innovation leading to policy trade-off. This dual impact of innovation is considered during policy recommendation.Practical implicationsThe policy framework recommended in the study shows a way to address the objectives of SDG 8, 9 and 13 during post-COVID-19 period.Social implicationsPolicy recommendations in the study show a way to internalize the negative social externality exerted by innovation.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by considering the policy trade-off caused by innovation and recommending an SDG-oriented policy framework for the post-COVID-19 era.
Highlights
Technological innovations, digital innovations, are expected to generate higher amount of value and resources for the economy in the coming years (Unalan and Ozcan, 2020; Jha and Bose, 2015)
We look at the role and the limiting effects of technological innovations in meeting sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Conclusion and policy implications The dual impacts of innovation of CO2 emissions and unemployment are analyzed at a global scale, and the results indicate that innovation–CO2 emissions association follows an inverted U-shaped form, whereas the innovation–unemployment association follows a U-shaped form
Summary
Technological innovations, digital innovations, are expected to generate higher amount of value and resources for the economy in the coming years (Unalan and Ozcan, 2020; Jha and Bose, 2015). Recent global disruptions like COVID-19 have exacerbated the need and the push toward higher levels of digitalization as well (Gurbuz and Ozkan, 2020). © Avik Sinha, Arnab Adhikari and Ashish Kumar Jha. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
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