How do the implementations of regulatory impact analysis perform on sustainable development? Investigating the OECD countries through data envelopment analysis

We aimed to analyse the efficiency scores of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries in achieving sustainable development through the regulatory impact analysis. We employed the data envelopment analysis method based on an output-oriented approach to reach the aim. The main result indicated that most countries reached low efficiency scores; on the contrary, the United Kingdom was the only country with a maximum efficiency score due to the significant improvements associated with the regulatory impact analysis in supporting sustainable development since the 1990s. We also specifically compared the situations of the best- and worst-performing countries. Therefore, we improved some policy recommendations for how the worst-performed countries could increase their efficiency levels. The study’s originality is that it is a scarce empirical study focusing on the achievements of OECD countries through efficiency scores by concerning the RIA implementations in supporting SD.