ABSTRACT This study addresses the limited research on sustainable development in ASEAN by quantitatively analyzing levels, country disparities, and dynamic evolution trends across the 10 member countries from 2000 to 2020. Based on the United Nations SDGs framework and the regional characteristics of ASEAN, an evaluation metrics framework was developed across four dimensions: economic development, social harmony, ecological environment, and resource security, with the inclusion of representative digital economy metrics to enhance the framework's applicability and foresight in the digital era. Data were assessed using a combination of entropy‐weighted TOPSIS and equal weighting methods, with dynamic trends analyzed via kernel density estimation and Markov transition probability matrix. Key findings include: (i) a modest overall improvement in sustainable development, with economic development driven by the digital economy rising significantly, social harmony and ecological environment remaining relatively stable, and resource security declining post‐2013; (ii) significant spatial disparities, mixed sub‐dimensional performance, and a relatively stable spatial pattern; and (iii) a narrowing gap in sustainable development levels, yet with limited upward mobility in sustainability tiers. The study enriches ASEAN's sustainable development literature and offers evidence‐based policy recommendations.
Zhou et al. (Wed,) studied this question.