Investigating the impact of economic growth, publicinvestments, and environmental policies on theachievement of sdg-6: evidence from a panel data analysisof BRICS-T countries

This study investigates the impact of economic growth, public investments, and environmental policies on access to clean water and sanitation services in BRICS-T countries between 2000 and 2022. The panel data analysis reveals that infrastructure and policy frameworks in these countries play a significant role, particularly in ensuring access to clean water and sanitation. The findings indicate that while economic growth and environmental policies positively affect access to clean water, public expenditures are negatively associated with it, pointing to inefficiencies and prioritization issues in infrastructure investments. Moreover, strengthened environmental regulations have led to notable improvements in water access, especially in rapidly developing countries such as China and India. In contrast, access to sanitation services appears to be positively influenced by economic growth and urbanization, whereas the effect of environmental policies remains limited. The study further shows that economic prosperity, measured by per capita GDP, has a strong positive impact on both clean water and sanitation access, and that environmental policies contribute to improvements, particularly in water management and sanitation infrastructure. Additionally, urbanization plays a key role in expanding access to these services; however, the needs of rural areas must not be overlooked. These findings highlight the need for policymakers to reassess priorities in infrastructure investment and environmental regulation. The study reaffirms the critical importance of economic growth and effective environmental policies, supported by sustainable development strategies, in enhancing access to clean water and sanitation, improving quality of life, and protecting public health.