A Cross-National Econometric Analysis on Exploring the Impact of R&D Expenditure (% of GDP) on Economic Growth in BRICS Nations

Abstract

In the 21st-century knowledge economy, Research and Development (R&D) plays a pivotal role in driving innovation, productivity, and long-term economic growth. Among emerging economies, the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) represent a significant share of the global population and GDP, yet their investment in R&D varies widely in scale, structure, and outcomes. Despite individual progress, there is a need to evaluate how R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP influences economic growth collectively and comparatively within this group. This study emerges in response to growing calls for evidence-based insights into the innovation-growth nexus within the BRICS framework.