Land use efficiency and governance disparities: Unveiling the nexus in the Arab world

Abstract

Monitoring land use efficiency (LUE) and governance is essential for guiding policymakers toward sustainable development. This study aims to achieve three primary objectives for Arab countries from 2000 to 2020: (1) assess LUE progress using the land consumption rate to population growth rate (LCRPGR) indicator, derived from Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) data; (2) evaluate governance progress through indicators such as Voice and Accountability, Political Stability, Government Effectiveness, Regulatory Quality, Rule of Law, and Control of Corruption, sourced from the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) data; and (3) analyze the relationship between LUE and governance using hierarchical clustering and correlation analyses. The study reveals significant disparities in LUE and governance across Arab nations. Most countries report LCRPGR values below one, indicating a shift toward more compact urban development. While some governance indicators have shown improvement, these changes have not notably affected global rankings, with most Arab countries remaining in the lower quartiles. The study classifies Arab countries into distinct groups: those with good governance tend to have lower LCRPGR values, reflecting more compact urban development, while those with poor governance exhibit higher LCRPGR values, suggesting less compact or even sprawling urban development. These findings are supported by significant negative correlations between governance indicators and the LCRPGR indicator. This research underscores the complex relationship between LUE and governance, offering valuable insights into the region's dynamics and challenges.