Brazil, Russia, India, China And South Countries Research Articles

Adoption of renewable energy to phase down fossil fuel energy consumption and mitigate territorial emissions: evidence from BRICS group countries using panel FGLS and panel GEE models

The recognition of climate change as real and unprecedented has been acknowledged by global communities. Furthermore, fossil fuel energy consumption and territorial emissions are identified as major drivers of climate change. Data collected from the World Bank for BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) group of countries for the period from 1990 to 2018, and analyzed using Panel FGLS and Panel GEE models, revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship between GDP per capita and its square with fossil fuel energy consumption in BRICS countries. However, this relationship was not observed with territorial emissions. It is indicated that the BRICS group of countries is making efforts to reduce fossil fuel energy consumption, but investment in green technology is insufficient to reduce territorial emissions. Therefore, it is recommended that climate policies need to be more aggressively implemented to support investment in clean and green energy technology.

Technological entrepreneurship readiness

Technological entrepreneurship presents opportunities for accelerated growth during the Fourth Industrial Revolution and assessing the readiness for such entrepreneurship would be important to investors (interested in profit) and governments (interested in economic growth). The aim was to assess and rank the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries on their level of technological entrepreneurship readiness, as to direct investor funding or alternatively guide government initiatives. Data which was collected in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, for the World Values Survey, was used in the study (N=13 895). Mean and composite scores linked to entrepreneurship as well as the embracement of technology were compared across countries. These were combined to generate a score used to rank the countries. With each of the individual, as well as the composite variables, significant differences were found across the BRICS countries. China was rated the highest on attitudes towards science while South Africa was rated highest on the openness to entrepreneurship. On the composite score, technology entrepreneurship readiness, China scored the highest. China was ranked as the BRICS countries most viable for technology entrepreneurship. Technology investors should thus consider directing their venture capital eastward. The governments of the other countries should take note of their shortcomings and the results could inform policies to enhance readiness. The results, at a theoretical level, provided some insights into the conceptualisation of technology-related entrepreneurship.

Trends in mortality due to tracheal, bronchial, and lung cancer across the BRICS: An age-period-cohort analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2019.

Tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer (TBL) is a major cause of mortality and top contributor to productivity loss in large emerging economies such as the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). We examined the time trends of TBL mortality across the BRICS to better understand the disease burden in these countries and inform public health and healthcare resource allocation. TBL mortality-related data between 1990 and 2019 were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 and analyzed using age-period-cohort models. Net drift (local drift) was used to describe the expected age-adjusted TBL mortality rate over time overall (each age group); the longitudinal age curve was used to reflect the age effect; the period rate ratios (RRs) were used to reflect the period effect; and the cohort RR was used to reflect the cohort effect. In 2019, there were 958.3 thousand TBL deaths across the BRICS, representing 46.9% of the global TBL deaths. From 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of TBL decreased in Russia, Brazil, and South Africa while increased in China and India, with the largest reduction reported in Russia (-29.6%) and the largest increase in China (+22.4%). India showed an overall increase (+15.7%) in TBL mortality but the mortality risk decreased among individuals born after 1990 (men) and 1995 (women). Although South Africa and Brazil experienced an overall decline in TBL mortality, their recent birth cohorts, such as Brazilian individuals born after 1985 (men) and 1980 (women), and South African men born after 1995, had an increasing TBL mortality risk. China has experienced an overall increase in TBL mortality, with the mortality risk rising among individuals born after 1995 for both men and women. Russia, which had the highest TBL mortality among the BRICS countries in 1990, has demonstrated significant improvement over the past three decades. Over the past 30years, the BRICS accounted for an increasing proportion of global TBL mortality. TBL mortality increased in older women in all the BRICS countries except Russia. Among the recent birth cohort, the risk of TBL mortality increased in Brazil, China, and South Africa. More effective efforts are needed in the BRICS to reduce the burden of TBL and help achieve the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.

The Development Concept in BRICS: An Analysis of Projects Financed by the NDB

The article examines the concept of development within the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) framework and how the New Development Bank (NDB) is used to achieve it.It analyzes BRICS summit documents from 2014 to 2022 and financing projects considered by the NDB from 2016 to 2022. The arguments made are as follows: development has been a top priority within BRICS; development is fundamental for economic growth and strengthening infrastructure; development involves a notion of progress closely tied to sustainability and the “green” concept; and the NDB, despite its commitment to good environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, does not ensure them throughout the execution of projects. In the initial years, cooperation among BRICS countries was emphasized as the means to achieve development. The NDB complements this by filling gaps in international financing. Notably, there is a significant number of projects in the transport infrastructure sector, with leadership from India and China, while the social infrastructure sector is marginalized. There is rapid project appraisal dynamic that does not necessarily translate into project implementation and completion. At the same time, the NDB has attracted interest from new members. As long as the NDB can efficiently attract and lend resources to its members and respond swiftly and responsibly to new challenges in an everchanging international context, it will be seen as a significant multilateral development bank that promotes South-South cooperation. As a result of BRICS coordination, the success of the NDB contributes to development financing and positively impacts the relevance and resilience of the grouping in global politics.

New insight into decoupling carbon emissions from economic growth: Do financialization, human capital, and energy security risk matter?

AbstractAgainst the backdrop of persistent climate change and deteriorating environmental pressure, this study integrates financialization, human capital, and energy security risks to provide new insight into decoupling carbon emissions from economic growth. The study employs annual panel data on the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries for the period of 1990–2019. The research employs the C‐S ARDL approach and the Tapio decoupling index to assess the decoupling status of the BRICS countries. In addition, this study applies the recently developed Juodis, Karavias, and Sarafidis Granger noncausality test for robustness. The findings offer compelling evidence of an inverted U‐shaped curve, aligning with the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis. Consequently, the results confirm the decoupling of carbon emissions in the BRICS nations. Furthermore, the Tapio decoupling elasticity index confirms different carbon decoupling statuses among the BRICS. The results show expansive negative decoupling for Brazil, weak decoupling for India and China, and strong decoupling for Russia and South Africa. In terms of policy, achieving strong decoupling status in the BRICS requires that financial institutions' lending and investing strategies align with environmental objectives. In addition, human capital development policies such as increased spending on education should be vigorously pursued to empower people to lead sustainable development projects.

Time trends in the burden of autoimmune diseases across the BRICS: an age–period–cohort analysis for the GBD 2019

BackgroundThis study aims to evaluate the long-term trend of prevalence and DALY (disability-adjusted life-year) rate on the age, period and cohort (APC) of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and...

Does Trade Openness Affect Taxation? Evidence from BRICS Countries

This study aims to investigate the relationship between trade openness and taxation in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries. This study uses a panel dataset for 2000–2021 and employs various econometric techniques such as the cross-sectional dependence test, unit root test, panel regression selection criteria, robustness checking fully modified ordinary least square and dynamic ordinary least square to validate the research model. The study finds that trade openness positively impacts taxation in BRICS countries. Specifically, the study finds that trade freedom, trade ratio and average trade increase the tax-to-GDP ratio and tax collection. Additionally, the study finds that financial development (FDV), financial openness (FON), GDP per capita (GPR) and political stability (PLS) positively impact taxation, but inflation has a negative effect. The results imply support for comparative advantage theory, suggesting that trade openness can positively impact taxation. The findings also highlight the importance of FDV, FON, GPR and PLS for tax revenue collection. From a managerial perspective, the results suggest that policymakers in BRICS countries should prioritize measures that promote trade openness and economic growth to improve their taxation systems.

The Effect of Per Capita Income and the Agricultural Sector on Goods and Services Tax Receipts with Economic Growth as Moderation in BRICS Countries

The purpose of this research is to analyze the effect of per capita income and the agricultural sector on goods and services tax revenues with economic growth as the moderation in the combined economy countries, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). The variables used in this study are the ratio of goods and services tax revenue, per capita income, the contribution of the agricultural sector, and the percentage of economic growth. The data source comes from the World Bank Data for the period 2010 to 2018. The research method used is quantitative using panel data and multiple linear regression analysis techniques. The Random Effect Model is a model selected based on panel model testing. Simultaneously, all variables have a significant effect on goods and services tax revenues. Partially, per capita income, agricultural sector, and economic growth have a significant negative effect on goods and services tax revenues. This research is expected to provide insight to the governments of the BRICS countries in making policies to optimize goods and services tax revenues through per capita income, the agricultural sector, and economic growth.

Social science research: An analysis of BRICS countries

The purpose of this study is to conduct a quantitative analysis and comparison of social science research output among BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries. Data were collected through the open-access SCImago portal and Scopus. The number of documents and citable documents, global share and ranking, the number of citations per document, the h-index, and international collaboration were all analyzed. Except for China, none of the BRICS countries made the top 10 global rankings during the 1996–2021 period, but three of them (China, India, and Russia) did so in 2021. China has the most documents and the greatest h-index score, whereas South Africa has the highest number of citations. For China, on the other hand, more than half of the citations are self-citations. More than 50% of Russian documents are not cited in the subsequent literature. The study’s findings highlight publication trends and collaboration pattern among the BRICS countries in social sciences, which benefit the academic community, decision-makers, and the economy of the BRICS countries.

Analysis on export competitiveness of oilseeds with BRICS countries

The paper attempts to assess India’s trade intensity as well as the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) of theoilseeds with respect to trade with BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) disaggregate levels. Thestudy assesses the structure of the comparative advantage from 2001 to 2018. The study found that TI (Trade Intensity) with the BRICS group was more in comparison to ROW (Rest of world). EEI (Export Intensity Index) for BRICS countries was also more intense in comparison to ROW whereas III (Import Intensity Index) showed less intense in comparison to ROW. Relative comparative advantage for groundnut, sesame and mustard was observed with the BRICS group.

Agricultural productivity‐environmental sustainability nexus through the lens of digitalization and energy intensity in BRICS countries

AbstractThe agricultural sector holds paramount implications in the economies of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries. Nevertheless, the escalating effect of climate change shows a significant and alarming threat to the actual environmental conditions required to sustain agricultural production. This study examines the potential contribution of demographic dividends, digitalization, and energy intensity in facilitating the attainment of environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity by BRICS economies from 1996 to 2020. The study first tested cross‐sectional dependence, then unit roots, cointegration, and long‐run elasticities using suitable econometric approaches to explore possible links between the study variables. The empirical results from the long‐run estimators stated that digitalization improves agricultural production and the environment; contrarily, demographic dividend and energy intensity contribute to environmental degradation. Furthermore, the long‐term improvement of agricultural production is supported by demographic dividend, GDP per capita, energy intensity, and digitalization. Also, the study reached a broad inference emphasizing bidirectional causal associations between demographic dividend, energy intensity, GDP per capita, the environment, and agricultural production. In conclusion, the study has identified robust policy options for BRICS economies that can serve as valuable guidance for policymakers in making informed decisions and implementing effective practices.

Impact of natural resources and technology on economic development and sustainable environment – Analysis of resources-energy-growth-environment linkages in BRICS

To examine the effects of technological advancements and natural resources in the energy-growth-environment nexus for a panel of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) economies over 1990–2022, we use the extended STIRPAT “(stochastic impact of regression on population, affluence, and technology)” model. Results obtained using the “Augmented Mean Group (AMG) and Fully Modified-Least Square (FM-LS) panel algorithms” show that technological advancements may lower CO2 emissions and boost economic development in the BRICS nations. Our calculations also confirm the classic “environmental Kuznets curve (EKC)” for the BRICS and, to a lesser extent, for other nations, and they support energy push emissions. Additionally, the empirical findings point to a one-way causal relationship between income and CO2; however, a two-way causal relationship between revenue and energy consumption and between the energy use and emissions of CO2in the BRICS and individual countries is also functional. The findings show that to attain energy security and a sustainable environment; governments may consider the role of innovations as a green supply of technology.

And Digitally Just and Inclusive Futures

As the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries gather for the 2023 Summit in August 2023, they are confronted with the task to deepen economic cooperation in line with the BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy. Key to this is the building of a BRICS-wide digital economy that enables inclusion and dynamism. They see themselves as committed to driving digital transformation, harnessing opportunities and mitigating challenges they face in regard to digital technologies. They recognize the importance of digital inclusion and connectivity as economic growth and social development drivers. Initiatives such as India's Digital India program, China's Belt and Road Initiative, and South Africa's National Integrated ICT Policy emphasize expanding digital infrastructure and improving access to bridge the digital divide (Kaplinsky, 2017).

The effect of governance quality on future economic growth: an analysis and comparison of emerging market and developed economies

This paper examines the influence of the six World Governance Indicators (WGIs), as defined by the World Bank, on the real GDP growth of five emerging markets, the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries, and three advanced economies, the United States, Germany and Japan. The analysis is based on a panel data set containing the six WGIs along with further macroeconomic variables (government debt, external debt, current account balance, trade balance, budget balance, foreign exchange rate and short-term interest rate), with annual data from 1996 to 2018. We find that regulatory quality has a positive impact on economic growth, an effect that remains stable across all robustness tests. This indicates that a sound regulatory environment stimulates economic growth. We also find a negative impact of rule of law on economic growth, but this effect is not robust. The literature, however, documents a negative effect from income to rule of law, expressing that higher income does not necessarily lead to a demand for better institutions. A principal component analysis on the WGIs shows that governance is diverse across countries, while stable over time. The first two PCs capture more than 95% of the WGIs variance and are able to cluster emerging and developed markets.

The impact of geopolitical risk, governance, technological innovations, energy use, and foreign direct investment on CO2 emissions in the BRICS region.

Geopolitical risk (GPR) and other social indicators have raised many somber environmental-related issues among government environmentalists, and policy analysts. To further elucidate whether or not these indicators influence the environmental quality, this study investigates the impact of GPR, corruption, and governance on environmental degradation proxies by carbon emissions (CO2) in BRICS(Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, using data over the period 1990 to 2018. The cross-sectional autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL), fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS), and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) methods are usedfor empirical analysis. First and second-generation panel unit root tests report a mixed order of integration. The empirical findings show that government effectiveness, regulatory quality, the rule of law, foreign direct investment (FDI), and innovation have a negative effect on CO2 emissions. In contrast, geopolitical risk, corruption, political stability, and energy consumption have a positive effect on CO2 emissions. Based on the empirical outcomes, the present research invites the concentration of central authorities and policymakers of these economies toward redesigning more sophisticated strategies regarding these potential variables to protect the environment.

Designing an Econometric Model on the Impact of Tax Burden on Investment Freedom and Sustainable Development of BRICS Countries

Foreign direct investments represent an important financial resource, which if directed correctly can constitute important elements in the sustainable development of the world's economies. Therefore, national economies have engaged in a fierce struggle to attract them, trying to build an environment as favorable as possible for investors, guaranteeing them investment freedom in various key sectors of the economy. The aim of the research is to analyze the impact of the tax burden on the investment freedom and sustainable development of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) emerging economies. The research explores the relationship between fiscal burden, investment freedom and sustainable development, and the potential implications for the economic growth and social well-being of the BRICS economies. The research study consists in the design of an econometric model to evaluate the determinants of investment freedom and sustainable development of the BRICS economies in relation to the fiscal burden.

Examining the Effects of Human Development, Unemployment, and Globalization on Obesity in the Community: Evidence from BRICS Countries

Obesity is a social problem that needs to be carefully considered regarding its causes and consequences. This study examines the impact of human development, unemployment, and globalization on obesity in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries from 1991 to 2016. For this aim, the study uses Fourier causality and cointegration tests, which consider smooth structural breaks. The cointegration test results show that obesity and explanatory variables do not move together in the long run for all countries. According to the causality result of this study, there is a unidirectional causal relationship from obesity to unemployment in China. On the other hand, there is unidirectional causality from obesity to human development and globalization in India. Overall, India can lessen the negative effects of obesity on its population and improve its standing in the global economy if it promotes healthy lifestyles and controls the food and beverage industry. On the other hand, obesity may cause people to become unemployed, so it is recommended that policymakers fight obesity to control unemployment in China.

Do Technological Innovation and Financial Development Affect Inequality? Evidence from BRICS Countries

While technological innovation and financial development are broadly credited as important drivers of economic growth of developed nations, their impact on inequality (especially in emerging economies) remains understudied. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate the impact of technological innovation and financial development on income inequality in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries using panel dynamic ordinary least squares (PDOLS) and panel fully modified ordinary least squares (PFMOLS) with annual data sourced from the Standardized World Income Inequality Database, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (1990–2017). The results suggest that technological innovation increases income inequality in the BRICS nations, while financial development has an income reducing effect on inequality. Our results are robust, using alternative estimation with various sub-indicators of financial development (such as financial markets and financial institution), including other measures proxied by access to credit provided by commercial banks. The study’s results have important implications for policy and practice in the BRICS countries. By providing a nuanced understanding of the relationship between technological innovation, financial development and inequality, the study will inform the design and implementation of policies aimed at reducing inequality and promoting inclusive growth in these emerging economies.

Sustainable development efficiency and its influencing factors across BRICS and G7 countries: An empirical comparison

Sustainable development is the global overarching paradigm and essential for achieving economic, social, and environmental development. The primary goal of this study is to compare the efficiency of sustainable development and evaluate its influencing factors across the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and United States) countries by examining total factor productivity, efficiency change, and technological change. For this, we adopted the super-efficiency SBM-DEA model with undesirable output and Global Malmquist-Luenberger (GML) productivity index model to overcome inaccurate efficiency results while avoiding environmentally unwanted outputs and to resolve the shortcomings of the conventional Malmquist-Luenberger index. It is also necessary to explore relevant influencing factors on the environmental pollution thereby affects the sustainable development efficiency of the study countries, thus, this study employed STIRPAT approach. A panel data of BRICS and G7 countries from 2005 to 2015 is used. The findings reveal that sustainable total factor productivity (GML) in China (1.0165), the US (1.0150), and UK (1.0024) is on the rise. China is also one of the countries that experienced the highest positive efficiency change (GMLEC) (1.0147) and the US has the highest positive technical change (GMLTC) (1.0103). Contrarily, Russia experienced the highest decline in GMLTC (0.9316) as well as GML indexes (0.9337), whereas South Africa experienced the highest decline in GMLEC (0.9707). Additionally, GDP per capita (.0969) and population (.4178) have a positive influence on CO2 emissions in the BRICS countries, whereas in the G7 nations, GDP per capita (−.2180) and population (−.1249) have negative influences on CO2 emissions. The study also offers practical recommendations to address identified limitations and improve sustainable productivity and environmental efficiency. The inverse link between GDP and CO2 emissions might imply that the G7 nations have passed the turning point on an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC), but this finding does not support the EKC hypothesis in the BRICS nations.

The trend in density of skilled health personnel in BRICS countries: Implication for China and India.

The similarities and differences in workforce trends in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) may offer reciprocal lessons for emerging economies. We used the Global Health Observatory data to assess the secular trends between 2001 and 2017 in the number of skilled health personnel (SHP: doctors, nurses/midwives) in BRICS compared to the average of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Substantial efforts havebeen made in BRICS to increase SHP availability, as demonstrated by an average exponential growth rate (AEGR)>0.03 in Brazil, China, and India compared to 0.01 in OECD. With an AEGR as high as 0.07 after 2008, China reached the level of SHP availability commensurate with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2017. Other than China, BRICS countries had a mean number of nurses and midwives per doctor between 2001 and 2017 higher than or comparable to the OECD average (2.78). The corresponding number in China was 1.04 in 2017, lower than 2.21 in India in 2001. With China as the exception, BRICS countries maintained a sustainable skills mix of SHPs. China reached the level of SHP availability commensurate with the SDGs, but SHP's skill mix was imbalanced.