Research
A Methodological Proposal for the Construction of Municipal Sustainable Development Indices using Data Envelopment Analysis
In this study we constructed the Municipal Sustainable Development Index (MSDI) with the use of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), consider ing seventeen (17) socioeconomic and environmental indicators, thus achieving the classification of towns in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), like sustainable development, local strengths, and weaknesses that may facilitate or hinder the regional sustainable development. The state of MS goes through a process of influential agro-industrial development, with powerful environmental impact, requiring measures of State Public Policymakers. The MSDI was formulated following the tripod structure of social sustainability (SDI - Social Development Index), economic (EDI – Economic Development Index) and environmental (EnDI – Environmental Development Index). Selected indicators of each structure represented each sustainability aspect, being tested separately by the models DEA-CCR and DEA-BCC to generate efficiency scores for subsequent aggregation into a synthetic index that represents the sustainable development of municipalities. The relevance of the present work consisted of broadening the debate on sustainable development and identifying the local inequalities and the need for targeting public policies in order that promote sustainable and comprehensive development. In applying the methodology, DEA-BCC model fits best to the data of the municipalities considered. The inefficiencies found were for the most part, related to economic aspects.
