Towards an Integrated Measurement of Territorial Performance: Contributions of a Composite Index Applied to the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra Region

Abstract

Measuring territorial performance remains a methodological challenge in regional development research, particularly in data-constrained contexts. This study aims to construct a multidimensional Integrated Territorial Performance Index (ITPI) capturing the interplay between economic efficiency, social cohesion, and perceived territorial value in the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region. The methodological approach relies on Min–Max normalization, equal weighting, and geometric aggregation, applied to regional data over the period 2014–2023. The findings reveal a significant improvement in overall territorial performance, with the ITPI rising from 0.37 in 2014 to 0.55 in 2023, driven primarily by economic efficiency gains. However, social cohesion remains fragile and declines over time, highlighting persistent structural imbalances in terms of unemployment.