Toward Sustainable Development for Emerging Economies: Statistical Capacity Indicators in Chile and the Andean Region

The authors examine Chile’s development in the context of countries that comprise the emerging economies of the Andean Region. An adapted version of the Sustainable Society Index (SSI) is used to assess and to compare the countries on dimensions that coincide with the triple-bottom-line of economic, natural-environmental and societal concerns, and to discern and project the sustainability of development in Chile and the Region. The analysis and subsequent interpretations draw on extant data and research to redress social traps; the authors present considerations for the sustainable development of the region and prognoses for consumer and societal wellness. Though some measures of inequality are a concern, findings suggest Chile is well-positioned, and indeed perhaps best positioned in the region, for sustainable development. Notable are Chile’s resource allocations for policies that stimulate economic development and inclusion, lower poverty rates, enhance schooling, facilitate health and well-being, nurture public trust, and foment political stability.