The effect of biomass energy consumption on economic growth in BRICS countries: A country-specific panel data analysis

Abstract

In this study, the relationship between economic growth and biomass energy consumption has been examined within the framework of the production function for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa-the BRICS countries from 1992 to 2013 using the cross-sectionally augmented Im, Pesaran and Shin (CIPS) panel unit root test, the Westerlund and Edgerton bootstrap LM panel cointegration test, and the bootstrap panel causality test that allow cross-sectional dependence. The results show that the growth hypothesis is valid in Brazil and India; however, the conservation hypothesis is valid in China and South Africa. The hypothesis that applies to Russia is the feedback hypothesis. The main finding is that BRICS countries should increase the use of biomass energy consumption to sustainable environment, promoting economic growth and reducing energy dependency. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.