The Efficiency of BRICS Countries in Sustainable Development: A Data Envelopment Analysis

The Efficiency of BRICS Countries in Sustainable Development: A Data Envelopment Analysis
Author: Isabella Melissa Mueller Gebert
Degree: Master’s in International Management
Date: October 2023
Institution: ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal
Advisor: Prof. Felipa Dias de Mello Sampayo, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, ISCTE Business School

This master’s thesis examines the efficiency of BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—in achieving sustainable development. Traditional assessments of national development have heavily relied on economic growth, often disregarding environmental and social costs. Given the BRICS’ economic prominence, large populations, and substantial ecological footprints, evaluating whether their growth aligns with sustainable development objectives is critical.

The study employs Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to measure how efficiently these countries transform productive resources into sustainable development outcomes. Efficiency scores were calculated across the three pillars of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social. The results provide a comparative overview of the countries’ performance, highlighting strengths and weaknesses in integrating economic growth with environmental protection and social well-being.

The thesis concludes that while BRICS nations have made significant economic progress, their efficiency in achieving holistic sustainable development varies, reflecting differences in policies, resource allocation, and institutional capacities. These findings offer insights into the specific challenges each country faces and suggest avenues for future research and policy interventions to improve sustainable development outcomes across the bloc.