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.
