Sustainable Development Disparities Across Asia‐Pacific Countries: A Descriptive Multidimensional Assessment

ABSTRACT This study examines national Sustainable Development across 21 Asia‐Pacific countries from 2000 to 2022 using the Economic, Environmental, Social, and Governance (EESG) index, a multidimensional framework integrating EESG sustainability. Anchored primarily in a conditional‐convergence perspective, with complementary reference to the Environmental Kuznets Curve and the institutions‐as‐fundamental‐causes perspective, the study adopts a descriptive comparative approach rather than a formal convergence test. Using time‐series visualization and descriptive statistics, it compares trajectories across three predetermined income‐based groups—high‐income, upper‐middle‐income, and lower‐middle−/low‐income countries—and examines country‐level variation within each group. The findings indicate persistent stratification rather than broad regional convergence. The high‐income group remained clearly ahead throughout the period, while the two lower‐income groups showed only limited narrowing relative to one another. Across dimensions, social sustainability showed the clearest descriptive evidence of narrowing, whereas economic and governance sustainability remained more persistently differentiated and environmental sustainability showed little sign of broad upward alignment. Progress across dimensions was also uneven, with improvement in one pillar not necessarily accompanied by similar movement in others. Considerable within‐group heterogeneity was also evident. Overall, the study shows that sustainability disparities in the Asia‐Pacific remained uneven across both income groups and EESG dimensions.