Sustainable development in a global context: Interactions and mutual readings between America and the Middle East (2004-2024)

Global interdependence increasingly shapes regional development. This study examines how globalization and economic integration influenced sustainability trajectories in the Americas and the Middle East from 2004 to 2024. Using the SEY (Social–Environmental–Yield) model, which integrates simultaneous equations, a vector autoregressive (VAR) framework, and Granger causality analysis, the study measures cross-regional spillover effects. Results show predominantly positive sustainability elasticities, highlighting synergistic relationships that promote mutual learning and convergence toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings demonstrate that openness and cooperation are key not only for economic growth but also for social equity, energy security, and environmental resilience.