SDGs in Order

What This Is

When I was a Fellow at New America — a think tank in Washington, DC — I noticed something problematic about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Remarkably, 193 countries had agreed on the most important problems the world needed to solve. But there was no guidance on how to start solving them. To me, it seemed like a nightmare to-do list: 169 problems tied in a Gordian knot that The Economist estimated would cost about $45 trillion to untangle.

We needed to set priorities — not by which problems were most important, as we’d never get agreement on that, but by which solutions would enable other solutions. Here’s how I thought about it: When you build a house, you have to start with the foundation. Even if you believe the roof is most important, you start with the foundation and then the walls before you can add the roof. In this list of the biggest problems in the world, what is the foundation? And then what are the walls? You get the idea.

I certainly didn’t know the answers. So I partnered with The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (Headquartered in Paris, the OECD is a forum of 38 countries that provides data, analysis, and best practices to help governments promote economic progress and democracy.) Together, we surveyed 258 economists, political scientists, and social scientists from around the world — people whose work requires them to have global perspectives and not just national or regional interests.

So what happened? When we published our findings, there was a little buzz. There were a few op-eds. Our work was cited in a bunch of PhD dissertations. And I was invited to talk about the findings in the UK and the UAE. But nothing much changed. For one, the optimistic era of global cooperation that produced the SDGs was over, thanks in large part to political upheaval in the US and Western Europe. And two, I really underestimated how much countries would resist being told what problems they should work on first.

The Right Order

Here are the top 50 SDG targets in the what the experts said was the ideal sequence. See if you agree with what they said.

  1. Promote the rule of law

  2. Eliminate the most extreme poverty

  3. Increase access to health care, vaccines & medicines

  4. Ensure women's economic opportunity

  5. Increase government accountability

  6. Increase the number of children graduating primary & secondary school

  7. End discrimination against women

  8. Boost access to safe drinking water

  9. Promote social, economic & political inclusion

  10. End corruption

  11. Increase access to energy

  12. End preventable infant death

  13. Boost literacy & numeracy for kids

  14. Ensure equal opportunity in economic & public life

  15. Ensure equal access to legal rights

  16. Reduce poverty by half

  17. End violence against women

  18. Increase access to sanitation & hygiene

  19. End human trafficking and harsh labor

  20. Improve tax collection

  21. Increase access to information

  22. Eliminate child abuse

  23. Provide affordable Internet access

  24. Develop resilient infrastructure

  25. Increase youth & young adult training & employment

  26. Ensure efficient use of natural resources

  27. Expand social protection for poor

  28. Reduce violence

  29. Boost economic productivity through diversification

  30. Expand sustainable resilient food production

  31. Ensure safe migration of people

  32. Reduce maternal mortality

  33. Increase participatory planning

  34. Promote sustainable development

  35. Provide access to reproductive health care

  36. Enhance ability to gather data

  37. Create better tax policy for fossil fuels

  38. Curtail epidemic of communicable disease

  39. Ensure year-round food

  40. Boost per-capita GDP

  41. Combat organized crime

  42. Reduce water pollution and boost water treatment

  43. Protect worker rights

  44. Save accessible roads & public transit

  45. Conserve & manage forests

  46. Eliminate disparities in education

  47. Increase understanding of climate change & sustainable development

  48. Address bio-diversity and climate change locally

  49. Increase understanding of human rights, non-violence & diversity

  50. Provide safe & productive employment

Contributors

Here are the 278 economists, political scientists, and social scientists we surveyed. By the way, we tried to make the group as geographically diverse as possible, but we found that experts like these in much of the world are exclusively focused on challenges in a single country or region.

  • Dr. Andrew Abbott (University of Chicago)

  • Mr. Ammar Abu Zayyad (Open Society Foundations)

  • Mr. Brad Adams (Human Rights Watch)

  • Dr. Jonathan Addleton (USAID)

  • Ms. Liwayway Adkins (OECD)

  • Dr. Nikhil Agarwal (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Mr. Shardul Agrawala (OECD)

  • Ms. Aziza Akhmouch (OECD)

  • Mr. Abdulwahab Alkebsi (Center for International Private Enterprise)

  • Mr. Mark Allen (Center for Social & Economic Research)

  • Dr. Tim Allen (London School of Economics)

  • Dr. Laura Diaz Anadon (Harvard University)

  • Ms. Cheryl Anderson (USAID)

  • Dr. Belinda Archibong (Columbia University)

  • Ms. Nazanin Ash (Center for Global Development)

  • Mr. Andrew Auerbach (OECD)

  • Dr. Joao Pedro Azevdo (World Bank)

  • Ms. Raya Barazanji (United States Institute of Peace)

  • Mr. Owen Barder (Center for Global Development)

  • Mr. Sebastian Barnes (OECD)

  • Dr. Robert Barro (Harvard University)

  • Mr. Kristof Bender (European Stability Initiative)

  • Ms. Joelline Benefice (OECD)

  • Mr. Vincent Benezech (OECD)

  • Mr. Emmanuel Bergasse (Center for Social & Economic Research)

  • Ms. Monica Bhatia (OECD)

  • Ms. Romina Boarini (OECD)

  • Mr. Federico Bonaglia (OECD)

  • Dr. Reuben Brigety II (Council on Foreign Relations)

  • Ms. Kaysie Brown (United Nations Foundation)

  • Ms. Tihana Bule (OECD)

  • Dr. Daniel Calingaert (Freedom House)

  • Mr. Neil Campbell (Open Society Foundations)

  • Ms. Ivana Capozza (OECD)

  • Mr. David Caprara (Brookings Institution)

  • Mr. Thomas Carothers (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

  • Mr. Duncan Cass Beggs (OECD)

  • Dr. Miguel Centeno (Princeton University)

  • Mr. Laurence Chandy (Brookings Institution)

  • Ms. Sarah Chayes (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

  • Dr. John Ciorciari (University of Michigan)

  • Ms. Peggy Clark (Aspen Institute)

  • Dr. William Cline (Peterson Institute for International Economics)

  • Mr. Guillaume Cohen (OECD)

  • Dr. Matt Collin (World Bank)

  • Dr. Susan Collins (University of Michigan)

  • Ms. Francesca Colombo (OECD)

  • Dr. Joseph Conti (University of Wisconsin)

  • Ms. Laura Cozzi (OECD)

  • Ms. Mollie Cretsinger (OECD)

  • Ms. Yvonne Darkwa-Poku (MacArthur Foundation)

  • Dr. Reinout De Bock (International Monetary Fund)

  • Dr. Irineu de Carvalho Filho (International Monetary Fund)

  • Mr. George Deikun (USAID)

  • Mr. Alex Deprez (USAID)

  • Dr. Raj Desai (Brookings Institution)

  • Dr. Larry Diamond (National Endowment for Democracy)

  • Mr. Ben Dickinson (OECD)

  • Ambassador Paula Dobriansky (Harvard University)

  • Ms. Ebba Dohlman (OECD)

  • Dr. Daniel Drezner (Brookings Institution)

  • Mr. Jean-Christophe Dumont (OECD)

  • Mr. Charles Dunne (Middle East Institute)

  • Dr. Michele Dunne (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

  • Ms. Casey Dunning (Millennium Challenge Corporation)

  • Dr. William Easterly (New York University)

  • Ambassador Eric Edelman (United States Institute of Peace)

  • Mr. John Egan (OECD)

  • Mr. Poul Engberg Pedersen (OECD)

  • Dr. Ivan Ermakoff (University of Wisconsin)

  • Dr. Jean-Paul Faguet (London School of Economics)

  • Dean Lee Feinstein (Indiana University)

  • Dr. Raquel Fernandez (New York University)

  • Dr. Catherine Fieschi (Counterpoint)

  • Dr. Mike Findley (University of Texas)

  • Dean Marilyn Flynn (University of Southern California)

  • Mr. Robert Ford (OECD)

  • Ms. Marta Foresti (Overseas Development Institute)

  • Mr. Martin Forst (OECD)

  • Dr. Marion Fourcade (University of California - Berkeley)

  • Mr. Douglas Frantz (OECD)

  • Ms. Lynn Fredriksson (Freedom House)

  • Dr. Caroline Freund (Peterson Institute for International Economics)

  • Professor Julia Fromholtz (Arizona State University)

  • Ms. Sara Fyson (OECD)

  • Ms. Lauren Galacia (Freedom House)

  • Mr. Arvind Ganesan (Human Rights Watch)

  • Mr. Tom Garrett (International Republican Institute)

  • Dr. Alan Gelb (Center for Global Development)

  • Dr. Gaston Gelos (International Monetary Fund)

  • Mr. Carl Gershman (National Endowment for Democracy)

  • Mr. Daniel Gerson (OECD)

  • Mr. Michael Gestrin (OECD)

  • Ms. Gargee Ghosh (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)

  • Dr. John Glenn (U.S. Global Leadership Coalition)

  • Mr. James Goldston (Open Society Foundations)

  • Dr. Stuart Gordon (London School of Economics)

  • Mr. Michael Green (Social Progress Imperative)

  • Ms. Shannon Green (Center for Strategic & International Studies)

  • Ms. Louisa Greve (National Endowment for Democracy)

  • Dr. Lloyd Gruber (London School of Economics)

  • Mr. Alejandro Guerrero Ruiz (OECD)

  • Mr. Jeffrey Gutman (Brookings Institution)

  • Ms. Barbara Haig (National Endowment for Democracy)

  • Dr. Morton Halperin (Open Society Foundations)

  • Mr. David Harden (USAID)

  • Dr. Caroline Harper (Overseas Development Institute)

  • Mr. Masato Hayashikawa (OECD)

  • Mr. Edward Hedger (Overseas Development Institute)

  • Dr. Robert Herman (Freedom House)

  • Dr. Gary Herrigel (University of Chicago)

  • Mr. Paul Horrocks (OECD)

  • Ms. Irène Hors (OECD)

  • Mr. Scott Hubli (National Democratic Institute)

  • Dr. Macartan Humphreys (Columbia University)

  • Mr. William Hynes (OECD)

  • Dr. Elena Jarocinska (Center for Social & Economic Research)

  • Mr. Stephen Johnson (International Republican Institute)

  • Ms. Karen Jorgensen (OECD)

  • Dr. Sigrun Kahl (Yale University)

  • Dr. Robert Kahn (Council on Foreign Relations)

  • Dr. Dean Karlan (Yale University)

  • Ms. Katia Karousakis (OECD)

  • Ms. Rima Kawas (International Republican Institute)

  • Mr. Mark Keese (OECD)

  • Dr. Daniel Keniston (Yale University)

  • Mr. Homi Kharas (Brookings Institution)

  • Mr. Adnan Kifayat (The German Marshall Fund)

  • Dr. Rachel Kleinfeld (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

  • Mr. Gerald Knaus (European Stability Initiative)

  • Mr. David Kramer (Arizona State University)

  • Dr. Melvyn Krauss (Stanford University)

  • Mr. T. Kumar (Amnesty International USA)

  • Mr. Andrzej Kwiecinski (OECD)

  • Ambassador Mark Lagon (Freedom House)

  • Mr. Frans Lammersen (OECD)

  • Mr. Edwin Lau (OECD)

  • Mr . Xavier Leflaive (OECD)

  • Ambassador Maria Leissner (Community of Democracies)

  • Mr. Patrick Lenain (OECD)

  • Dr. Phil Levy (Chicago Council on Global Affairs)

  • Dr. Santiago Levy (Inter-American Development Bank)

  • Ms. Carina Lindberg (OECD)

  • Dr. Johannes Linn (Brookings Institution)

  • Ms. Myriam Linster (OECD)

  • Dr. Sida Liu (University of Wisconsin)

  • Ms. Clare Lockhart (Yale University)

  • Dr. Kristin Lord (IREX)

  • Mr. Barry Lowenkron (The German Marshall Fund)

  • Mr. Hans Lundgren (OECD)

  • Mr. Derek Luyten (International Republican Institute)

  • Mr. Rahul Malhotra (OECD)

  • Ms. Sarah Margon (Human Rights Watch)

  • Mr. Jean-Francois Marteau (World Bank)

  • Ms. Elisa Massimino (Human Rights First)

  • Mr. Michael Matera (Center for Strategic & International Studies)

  • Dr. John Mukum Mbaku (Brookings Institution)

  • Mr. John McArthur (Brookings Institution)

  • Dr. Rachel McCleary (Harvard University)

  • Ms. Ida Mcdonnell (OECD)

  • Mr. Stephen McInerney (Project on Middle East Democracy)

  • Mr. Thomas Melia (USAID)

  • Ambassador Sarah Mendelson (United Nations)

  • Ms. Mathilde Mesnard (OECD)

  • Mr. Duncan Millard (OECD)

  • Dr. Prachi Mishra (International Monetary Fund)

  • Dr. Philipa Mladovsky (London School of Economics)

  • Mr. John Morrell (Center for International Private Enterprise)

  • Dr. Todd Moss (Center for Global Development)

  • Mr. Patrick Moulette (OECD)

  • Ms. Susan Nicolai (Overseas Development Institute)

  • Ms. Julia Nielson (OECD)

  • Mr. Stephen Nix (International Republican Institute)

  • Ms. Ana Novik (OECD)

  • Ms. Keiko Nowacka (OECD)

  • Mr. Paul O'Brien (OECD)

  • Mr. Robin Ogilvy (OECD)

  • Mr. Joaquim Oliveira Martins (OECD)

  • Dr. Benjamin Olken (Massachusettes Institute of Technology)

  • Mr. Adam Ostry (OECD)

  • Ms. Beth Paige (USAID)

  • Ms. Maura Pally (Clinton Foundation)

  • Ms. Sara Pantuliano (Overseas Development Institute)

  • Dr. Stewart Patrick (Council on Foreign Relations)

  • Ambassador Mary Ann Peters (The Carter Center)

  • Dr. Michael Peters (Yale University)

  • Mr. Vukasin Petrovic (Freedom House)

  • Mr. Stephen Pickford (Chatham House)

  • Dr. Helene Poirson (International Monetary Fund)

  • Ms. Cindy Pollet (OECD)

  • Dr. Carlos Ponce (Freedom House)

  • Dr. Christian Pop-Eleches (Columbia University)

  • Dr. Lant Pritchett (Center for Global Development)

  • Mr. Arch Puddington (Freedom House)

  • Ms. Roberta Quadrelli (OECD)

  • Dr. Vijaya Ramachandran (Center for Global Development)

  • Mr. Shaun Reidy (OECD)

  • Mr. Jan Rielaender (OECD)

  • Dr. Kenneth Rogoff (Council on Foreign Relations)

  • Mr. Daniel Runde (Center for Strategic & International Studies)

  • Mr. Doug Rutzen (International Center for Not-for-Profit Law)

  • Ms. Angelica Salvi Del Pero (OECD)

  • Mr. Conor Savoy (Center for Strategic & International Studies)

  • Dr. Yezid Sayigh (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

  • Rep. Marietje Schaake (European Parliament)

  • Dr. Kim Lane Scheppele (Princeton University)

  • Mr. Marc Schleifer (Center for International Private Enterprise)

  • Ms. Liz Schrayer (U.S. Global Leadership Coalition)

  • Ms. Rachel Scott (OECD)

  • Mr. Simon Scott (OECD)

  • Dr. Brad Setser (Council on Foreign Relations)

  • Ms. Anita Sharma (United Nations Foundation)

  • Ms. Ritu Sharma (Center for Strategic & International Studies)

  • Ms. Cecile Shea (Chicago Council on Global Affairs)

  • Ms. Shruti Singh (OECD)

  • Dr. Anne-Marie Slaughter (New America)

  • Ms. Dina Smeltz (Chicago Council on Global Affairs)

  • Dr. Juan Sole (International Monetary Fund)

  • Dr. Konstantin Sonin (University of Chicago)

  • Mr. Ernesto Soria Morales (OECD)

  • Mr. Joseph Stead (OECD)

  • Dr. Maria Stephan (United States Institute of Peace)

  • Dr. John Sullivan (Center for International Private Enterprise)

  • Dr. Ann Swidler (University of California - Berkeley)

  • Mr. Wieslaw Szczuka (World Bank)

  • Dr. Theodore Talbot (Center for Global Development)

  • Ms. Cristina Tebar Less (OECD)

  • Mr. Stephen Thomsen (OECD)

  • Dr. Tomicah Tillemann (New America)

  • Dr. Camilo Tovar (International Monetary Fund)

  • Dr. Cihan Ziya Tugal (University of California - Berkeley)

  • Dr. Christopher Udry (Yale University)

  • Dr. Milan Vaishnav (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

  • Mr. Joao Vasconcelos (OECD)

  • Dr. Eric Verhoogen (Columbia University)

  • Mr. Jose Miguel Vivanco (Human Rights Watch)

  • Ambassador Kurt Volker (Arizona State University)

  • Dr. James Walsh (International Monetary Fund)

  • Dr. Susan Waltz (University of Michigan)

  • Mr. Michael Ward (OECD)

  • Dr. Alfred Watkins (Global Solutions Summit)

  • Dr. Catherine Weaver (University of Texas)

  • Dr. Eric Weese (Kobe University, Japan)

  • Dr. Barry Weingast (Stanford University)

  • Mr. Thomas Weko (OECD)

  • Ms. Sarah Leah Whitson (Human Rights Watch)

  • Dr. Dirk Willem te Velde (Overseas Development Institute)

  • Ambassador Clint Williamson (Arizona State University)

  • Mr. Damon Wilson (The Atlantic Council)

  • Ms. Karen Wilson (OECD)

  • Dr. Jonathan Wyrtzen (Yale University)

  • Dr. Anna Wziatek-Kubiak (Center for Social & Economic Research)

  • Ms. Talita Yamashiro Fordelone (OECD)

  • Dr. Richard Youngs (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

  • Mr. Ziga Zarnic (OECD)

  • Mr. John Zemko (Center for International Private Enterprise)

  • Mr. Roman Zhukovskyi (World Bank)

  • Mr. Felix Zimmermann (OECD)