A New Approach in Determining Social Performance: Sustainable Development Principles and Turkey’s Outlook

The concept of sustainable development, which has been closely followed, has become a trend for business organizations that desire to continue their existence in the market for a long term, as well as creating future value. Especially with the ongoing economic crisis since 2008, it has been revealed that the GDP, which is only a numerical reflection, does not fully supply the welfare level of the countries and it is not a determinant for value creation in the long view. The development level of the society should be evaluated together with the approaches to social and ecological phenomena, as well as economic data. In this context, various studies have been made to improve social performance at a global level. Among these studies, the Sustainable Development Goals, a national declaration published by the United Nations in 2015, emphasize the world's most remarkable financial, natural and social challenges with the aim of improving social welfare and raising global awareness. The Guideline contains 17 target indicators that are aimed to be achieved by 2030. The most important basis that separates the Sustainable Development Goals from other existing studies; in addition to emphasizing that global welfare cannot be determined solely in the light of economic data, it also designs the event in 17 non-independent perspectives in line with the target indicators the Guideline contains. In this study, the level of our country will be examined with the modeling of Sustainable Development Goals.