The role of the State in the 2030 Agenda

The 2030 Agenda implicitly establishes a series of economic policies that give the State a prominent role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper delves into some of the key elements of the Agenda from an economic policy perspective. Specifically, it focuses on three elements: i) the compatibility/incompatibility relationships between the SDGs; ii) the instruments necessary to maximize the possibilities of achieving them; and iii) the key role of public intervention. The results show that it is still difficult to establish multidimensional strategies that enhance the comprehensiveness of the SDGs, that the State must play a key role in the productive field, in addition to the social and environmental spheres, and that it must pursue expansionary monetary and fiscal policies to set a proper economic landscape, as well as commercial and labor policies that foster redistributive efforts and environmental sustainability, in order to maximize SDGs accomplishments.