RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNANCE PERFORMANCE AND SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE OF BRAZILIAN SMART CITIES

Abstract

This study analyzed the relationship between governance performance and sustainable performance in Brazilian smart cities. Governance uses digital technologies to improve quality of life, while sustainable performance integrates economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The research used secondary data from the Urban Systems platform (2015-2023), synthesized by the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution, and analyzed with longitudinal regression models. The results confirmed a significant relationship between the two performances. As an academic contribution, the study provided empirical evidence, highlighting the efficiency and productivity of smart cities. Practically, it helps managers and stakeholders find governance challenges through audits, promoting improvements. Public policies, such as those that follow the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, can transform urban governance, and increase sustainable performance. In the social sphere, the study showed that improvements in governance performance increase gross domestic product, job creation, and advances in sanitation and public health, such as piped water, sewage, and doctors. Improving these indicators reduces inequalities and promotes digital inclusion, in line with Goal 11 of the 2030 Agenda, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, and sustainable.