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.