On the remittances-environment led hypothesis: Empirical evidence from BRICS economies

In this paper, we investigated the association between CO₂ emissions, remittances, income, energy use, and foreign direct investment (FDI) through panel cointegration analysis, common correlated effect mean group (CCEMG), fully modified least squares (FM-LS) estimates, and panel causality test for the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) economies over 1986-2016. The empirical outcomes of CCEMG and FM-LS clarified that remittance inflows into BRICS region are contributing to environmental degradation. Similarly, results in the case of Brazil, Russia, and China supported the remittances-led emission hypothesis. On the other hand, different results have been reached in India, thus the remittances; inflows have dictated that they are helping to combat CO₂ emission. Furthermore, FDI has a positive and significant sign for BRICS economies. This relationship narrated that the FDI inflows to this region increase the CO₂ emission, hence obeying the pollution haven hypothesis. Finally, energy use also supports the energy-led emanation phenomenon in BRICS panel and alongside the countries. The panel causality test confirms the bidirectional linkage between remittances and CO₂ emissions.