Congratulations to Prof. Dr. Suat Kara and Assist. Prof. Mohammed Alnour
Scientific Contribution from BAÜN Academics to Africa’s Sustainable Future
The study co-authored by Prof. Dr. Suat Kara from the Department of International Trade and Logistics and Assist. Prof. Mohammed Alnour from the Department of Economics at Balıkesir University (BAÜN), examines the role of public sector transparency, the rule of law, and governance structures in achieving Africa’s Sustainable Development Goals within the framework of spatial spillover effects. The study reveals cross-border impacts on sustainable development outcomes, particularly in the areas of climate action and strong institutions.
The study titled “The Spatial Spillover Effects of Public Sector Transparency on Advancing Africa’s Sustainable Development Goals,” conducted by Prof. Dr. Suat Kara and Assist. Prof. Mohammed Alnour from BAÜN, Md. Emran Hossain from the University of Lefke, Soumen Rej from Amity University, and Abdalla Sirag from Al Qasimia University, was published in the journal “Sustainable Development,” which is ranked in the top quartile (Q1) of international journals (WoS Ranking: 1/65 Development Studies, SSCI, IF: 8.2, CiteScore: 14.5).
Prof. Dr. Suat Kara: “Strengthening Governance Accelerates Sustainable Development in Africa”
Providing information about the study, Prof. Dr. Suat Kara stated that the research addresses the structural challenges Africa faces in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). He emphasized that the study aims to analyze the effects of public sector transparency on sustainable development within an innovative framework under conditions of widespread corruption, weak governance structures, and political instability.
Prof. Dr. Suat Kara explained that public sector transparency was represented by the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), and that spatial spillover effects on key sustainable development outcomes—such as the Sustainable Development Index (SDI), CO₂ emissions, and ecological footprint—were analyzed together with indicators of the rule of law and political stability. He noted that the study aims to fill an important gap by revealing the cross-border impacts of governance reforms in the African context and by demonstrating how regional progress can be stimulated.
Regarding the research methodology, Prof. Dr. Suat Kara stated that panel data from 42 African countries covering the period 2012–2022 were analyzed using spatial econometric models that account for spatial dependencies. The findings show that a 1% improvement in the rule of law corresponds to a statistically significant direct increase of 0.024% in the Sustainable Development Index, although this effect is not significant through spatial spillover channels. In contrast, increases in public sector transparency were found to be associated with higher CO₂ emissions, particularly through spillover effects, while the rule of law was linked to a reduction in ecological footprint through indirect spatial mechanisms.
The study also indicates that income and population growth generate strong and positive spatial spillover effects on the Sustainable Development Index, while producing more complex and heterogeneous outcomes for environmental indicators. Prof. Dr. Suat Kara emphasized that these findings demonstrate that the relationship between governance and sustainability in Africa extends beyond national borders and exhibits an interconnected structure. In this context, regionally coordinated anti-corruption and institutional strengthening policies can play a critical role in promoting fair, green growth and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals by leveraging positive spatial spillover effects.
Article link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/sd.70589
