Does the export-to-import ratio affect environmental sustainability? Evidence from BRICS countries

Abstract

The study aims to examine the effects of trade balance, economic growth, green field investment, energy use, financial development, and urbanization on environmental sustainability in BRICS countries. This study proceeds to estimate the long-term association using the fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) and the dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) panel estimation methods for the years 1991–2020. This empirical study finds that the ratio of exports to imports has a negative effect on environmental degradation. This indicates that increasing the trade balance eventually leads to environmental sustainability, which finally improves living standards and environmental conditions in the BRICS countries. The findings further show that green field investment and financial development substantially improve environmental sustainability, but energy use, urbanization, and economic growth desperately negatively affect environmental sustainability. Additionally, this research finds a unidirectional relationship of environmental sustainability with trade balance, green field investment, energy use, urbanization, and economic growth rate. This study states how BRICS countries can be protected through trade balance controlling environmental degradation. Thus, this research provides improved orientations to the policymakers of BRICS countries to design policy in favor of the environment.