GOVERNMENT EFFECTIVENESS AND PUBLIC POLICY IN ACHIEVING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM ASIAN COUNTRIES

Abstract

This study examines the role of government effectiveness and public policy in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Asian countries. Using an unbalanced panel dataset of 25 Asian countries over the period 2010–2022, this research employs fixed effects panel regression to analyse the impact of governance quality, public expenditure, social spending, fiscal capacity, and macroeconomic factors on SDGs performance. The findings reveal that government effectiveness significantly and positively influences SDGs achievement. Public policy instruments, particularly government expenditure, social spending, and tax revenue, also play a crucial role in improving SDGs outcomes. However, economic growth alone does not consistently guarantee higher SDGs performance, underscoring the importance of inclusive and well-governed growth. Institutional quality further strengthens the effectiveness of public policies in promoting sustainable development. These results highlight the central role of effective governance and sound public policy in accelerating SDGs achievement in Asia and provide important policy implications for governments seeking to enhance sustainable development outcomes.