Adaptation of sustainable e-commerce based on countries' income levels from the perspective of economic sustainable development goals

Sustainable E-Commerce Index (SECI) is introduced in this study, which was developed to measure the impact of e-commerce, among the three basic elements of sustainable development goals, the one related to the sustainable economy. The variables were chosen based on Endogenous Growth Theory (EGT), which highlights the importance of internal factors in sustaining economic growth. The SECI includes 33 indicators distributed across 12 dimensions addressing basic internal factors such as technological capacity, infrastructure strength, and economic stability. In this context, the SECI a comprehensive approach to measure the potential contribution of e-commerce to a sustainable economy. The SECI covers countries with different economic levels, emphasizing the differences provided by different income levels. The findings of the study clearly demonstrate that investments in logistics and technological infrastructure are of vital importance in ensuring the sustainable growth of e-commerce. In particular, the development and optimization of transportation networks, innovative distribution models and digital platforms stand out as key determinants in ensuring long-term competitiveness and operational efficiency in the field of e-commerce. In addition, the analyses show that national trade dynamics, information and communication technologies (ICT) capacity and prevalence, banking, internet access and income distribution, and various socio-economic indicators have multifaceted and significant effects on the performance and durability of e-commerce. These findings also reveal the need for a comprehensive policy approach that requires infrastructure investments to be addressed in an integrated manner with digitalization and social development strategies in order to fully benefit from the potential of sustainable e-commerce. The SECI proves to be an important tool for understanding the role of e-commerce in promoting sustainable economic growth. Based on data from 146 countries, this study emphasizes the critical role of strong infrastructure and technological adaptation in promoting economic sustainability. The findings reveal the importance of policy development and infrastructure investments to maximize the contribution potential of e-commerce to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is emphasized that the development of digital infrastructures, increased access to technology and strategic investments offer great potential in accelerating sustainable development processes. In this context, it was concluded that policy makers should prioritize infrastructure and technology investments to strengthen the impact of e-commerce to economic and environmental sustainability. In addition, it was determined that stakeholders in the sector should provide ease of use to consumers and gain their satisfaction, thus increasing the impact of e-commerce on a sustainable economy. In this thesis, a forecast model was created in the pilot region of Turkiye and SDG estimation was carried out with SECI using the ANFIS method. This model is presented as a tool that allows for a more in-depth analysis of the impact of e-commerce on economic sustainable development goals and is expected to contribute to the shaping of future strategic policies and decisions in this direction. It also aims to help decision-makers evaluate the opportunities and risks associated with e-commerce from a more holistic perspective.