Green Economy as a Strategic Pathway to Sustainable Development: Toward an Operational Integrative Model Linking Economic Policies and Environmental Legislation

Abstract

Amid escalating global environmental challenges and increasing pressure on natural resources, weak integration between economic policies and environmental legislation has emerged as a critical structural barrier to an effective transition toward a green economy, particularly in developing countries. This study aims to analyze the nature of institutional integration and to develop an operational integrative model that explains its mechanisms and enhances public policy effectiveness in achieving sustainable development goals. The study adopts a descriptive–analytical approach supported by conceptual modeling and comparative analysis of relevant theoretical and applied literature. This approach identifies integration gaps and reconstructs the relationship between economic instruments and environmental regulatory frameworks within a dynamic, implementable, and evaluable structure. Findings indicate that the effectiveness of the green economy transition depends not on isolated economic or regulatory instruments, but on the degree of institutional coherence and structural coordination between them. Weak integration leads to inefficient resource allocation, reduced environmental compliance, and increased transition costs, particularly under institutional, financial, and governance constraints in developing countries. The study proposes a multi-level operational integrative model linking economic incentives with environmental regulatory mechanisms within an interactive framework that enables policy evaluation and improves implementation efficiency. The model transforms the economy–environment nexus into an integrated, measurable, and adaptive system, supporting policymakers in designing more effective and sustainable policies.