Addressing the Resource Curse Through Human Capital and Digital Transformation: A Panel Fourier Analysis of BRICS+ Countries

Abstract

Purpose This study investigates the long-run effects of natural resource rents on economic growth in BRICS + countries, with a particular focus on the moderating roles of digitalization, renewable energy consumption, human capital, and foreign direct investment. The aim is to determine whether digital transformation and human capital investment can alleviate the negative growth effects associated with resource abundance. Design/methodology/approach Panel data covering ten BRICS + economies from 2002 to 2021 were analyzed using advanced Fourier-based econometric techniques. The empirical strategy incorporates panel Fourier cointegration tests, Driscoll-Kraay estimators, and panel Fourier causality analyses, all of which account for structural breaks and cross-sectional dependence. The model explicitly examines the interaction between digitalization and resource rents, as well as the separate contributions of human capital, FDI, and renewable energy consumption. Findings Empirical findings provide strong support for the resource curse hypothesis: a 1% increase in resource rents is associated with a 0.16% decrease in per capita GDP over the long run. The effect of digitalization on the resource curse is U-shaped-while low levels of digitalization deepen the negative impact, higher levels attenuate it. Human capital exerts a robust and positive effect on growth, whereas FDI contributes modestly. In contrast, renewable energy consumption is found to reduce GDP per capita in the short run, likely due to adjustment costs during energy transitions. Practical implications The findings highlight the need for BRICS + policymakers to strategically invest resource revenues into digital infrastructure, human capital development, and clean energy technologies. These policy priorities are crucial for escaping the resource curse and promoting sustainable, innovation-driven growth. Originality/value - This study is among the first to integrate the moderating role of digitalization within the resource curse framework, employing robust Fourier-based methods that flexibly account for structural breaks