The influence of changes in the economy structure on social sustainability in developing countries—A spatial approach

Abstract This research presents an analysis of the influence of changes in the economy structure on social sustainability in developing countries. In this paper, this relationship is considered on a macroeconomic scale. The research utilises data from 98 selected developing countries located in Europe, Asia, Americas, and Africa from 2013 to 2020. The social conditions in developing countries, particularly located in Africa (due to health and hunger problems), are extensively discussed. The main goal of the study is to compare whether the economy servitisation in Africa affects same on the social sustainability as in the countries situated on other continents. This study describes social sustainability using selected determinants outlined in the first, second, and third goals of sustainable development (SD) formulated by the United Nations—SDG1 (no poverty), SDG2 (zero hunger), and SDG3 (good health and well‐being). The level of social sustainability is evaluated using a synthetic measure by Perkal. Moreover, spatio‐temporal sensitivity models are estimated and verified. The sensitivity parameter in these models demonstrates the impact of progress in the servitisation process on social sustainability. Furthermore, this connection is considered within separate groups of countries that are divided into four clusters depending on the continent on which they are located. The analysis presents that in the African countries the social conditions are the worst, but focus on the economy servitisation there can rapidly improve this situation. This results from the most sensitive social sustainability in the African countries caused by the economy servitisation.