Integrating sustainability into local government strategy: a configurational analysis on the role of administrative capacity

Anchored in the frameworks of administrative capacity and sustainable development, this article explores the factors that influence local governments’ integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their strategic processes. Based on data from 44 municipalities in Italy, a fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) identifies that spending capacity, specialized human capital, sustainability-oriented performance measurement systems, and political stability are key conditions that can support local governments in localizing the SDGs. Beyond revealing alternative pathways for integrating sustainability into local strategies, the study hints at how the interplay of internal technical and political arrangements within local governments can lead to varying outcomes in SDG localization. By leveraging a configurational approach, the study contributes to implementation public policy studies, exploring the multifaceted nature of administrative capacity within the complexities of local government operations and, thus, advancing the debate on how local governments can build more sustainable cities.