Do economic sanctions effectively change the behavior of targeted governments?

Context

Economic sanctions are penalties imposed by one or more countries on another to punish behavior or force policy change—ranging from trade restrictions to asset freezes. Policymakers and scholars fiercely debate their effectiveness: supporters point to cases where sanctions contributed to negotiated settlements, while critics argue they often entrench targeted regimes, harm civilians, and fail to achieve stated goals. This question has become urgent as sanctions have proliferated as a tool of statecraft, particularly following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and tensions over Iran's nuclear program.