THE SCIENCE IMPACT ON A COUNTRY’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The goal of this research was to assess the impact of science on a country’s sustainable development, taking into account its scientific potential. Statistical and correlation analysis were the main research methods used. Benchmark data included World Bank data from 2013 and 2018, the Global Knowledge Index (the “Research, Development and Innovation” sub-index), the Legatum Prosperity Index, the Social Progress Index, the Environmental Performance Index and the SDG Index for 2020. The research identified that science has a significant positive impact on a country’s sustained development; however, that impact can be unclear subject to the country’s scientific potential. In countries with low scientific potential, the link between scientific and sustainable development factors are stronger than in countries with average scientific potential, even though the effect from R&D for the former is less than for the latter. Research findings may serve as the basis for key factors in the development of scenarios and mechanisms to increase a country’s performance in achieving sustainable development..

Index Terms — Economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, Impact Assessment Model, knowledge, R&D, social progress, social sustainability, Sustainable Development Goals.