The role of digital transformation in the development of a sustainable blue economy and societal development in the BRICS countries

Abstract

This article examines the impact of digital transformation on the development of a sustainable blue economy and its influence on societal development in the BRICS countries over the period 2000–2025. The study utilizes a panel dataset covering the five BRICS countries, sourced from the World Bank, ITU, FAO, and UNDP. An econometric approach based on the dynamic panel GMM model is used to address endogeneity issues, complemented by robustness tests (FMOLS, DOLS). The results indicate that digital transformation has a positive and significant effect on the development of a sustainable blue economy. This economy acts as a conduit for societal development, particularly through green innovation and financial inclusion. However, negative environmental impacts may emerge in the absence of appropriate energy policies. This research contributes to the literature by integrating, for the first time in the BRICS context, digital transformation, the blue economy and societal development in a unified analytical framework over a long period (2000–2025).