The Nexus Between Economic Development, Democracy, and Environmental Degradation: Testing the EKC Hypothesis in the BRICS + 6 Countries

This study investigates the relationship between economic development, democracy, and carbon emissions in the BRICS + 6 countries, considering the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) Hypothesis. By using the data from 1991 to 2020, it aims to fill the research gap on whether economic development and democratic governance consistently lead to better environmental quality, focusing on carbon emissions as a primary measure. This research is distinctive because it considers the cross-sectional dependency and heterogeneity of the countries involved, employing robust regression models to examine the effects of various factors, including GDP, democracy index, and population, on carbon emissions. The study revisits the EKC hypothesis, which suggests an inverted U-shaped relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation, proposing that environmental quality deteriorates up to a certain income level before improving. However, it also explores critiques of the EKC, recognizing that the trajectory of environmental degradation is influenced by more than just income levels—factors such as technological advancement, economic structure, governmental environmental policies, and the level of democracy also play crucial roles. Expected to provide valuable insights for policy formulation, this research highlights the complex interactions between economic devel-opment, democratic governance, and environmental sustainability. It underscores the necessity of integrating democratic processes with economic and environmental planning to foster sustainable development, offering a nu-anced perspective on the dynamics between democracy, income, and environmental quality in the BRICS + 6 countries.