In this Open Access publication Claudia Lemke develops a comprehensive
Multi-Level Sustainable Development Index (MLSDI) that is applicable to
micro, meso, and macro objects by conducting methodological and
empirical research. Multi-level comparability is crucial because the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at macro level can only be achieved
if micro and meso objects contribute. The author shows that a novel
information-theoretic algorithm outperforms established multivariate
statistical weighting methods such as the principal component analysis
(PCA). Overcoming further methodological shortcomings of previous
sustainable development indices, the MLSDI avoids misled managerial and
political decision making.