Determinants of ecological footprint in BRICS countries: a panel data analysis

This study aimed to examine the variables that might affect the ecological footprint by using 1992–2015 data of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). The common correlated effects’ mean group test was employed under the assumption of cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity. In Brazil, an increase in energy consumption, technological development, and globalization decreased the ecological footprint by 0.043, 0.031, and 0.050 units, respectively, while an increase in urbanization increased the ecological footprint by 0.716 units. In Russia, on the other hand, no interpretation could be made because the coefficients were meaningless. In India, it had been observed that an increase of one unit in urbanization reduced the ecological footprint by 0.269 units. In China, it had been determined that a 1-unit increase in energy consumption reduced the ecological footprint by 0.043 units. In South Africa, the results could not be interpreted because the coefficients were insignificant. The results obtained vary according to the countries that revealed that local policies can also be effective on these variables. Therefore, countries have to act by examining the structures on their own to implement the policies they needed.