Heterogeneous associations of health expenditure, environmental pollution, and economic growth on life expectancy in BRICS economies

This study investigates the associations between economic growth, healthcare expenditure, environmental pollution, urbanization, trade openness, and life expectancy in BRICS economies from 2000 to 2024 using a distribution-sensitive panel framework. Quantile regression is applied to capture heterogeneity across different levels of life expectancy, supported by robustness checks using PCSE, DKSE, and F-GLS estimators, and validated through panel cointegration and dependence tests. The results show that healthcare expenditure is positively associated with life expectancy, while the relationships for economic growth and pollution are mixed and vary with development stage. Urbanization exhibits both supportive and adverse associations depending on infrastructure capacity and environmental pressure, and trade openness generally relates to lower life expectancy. These findings suggest that policy responses should be tailored rather than uniform across countries. Strengthening the efficiency of healthcare systems, coordinating industrial growth with pollution management, and adopting environmental and health safeguards in trade and urban policy can help BRICS governments align economic expansion with sustainable improvements in population well-being.