Effects of Age Dependency and Urbanization on Energy Demand in BRICS: Evidence From the Machine Learning Estimator

This paper examines the effects of age dependency ratio (the young age, old-age and overall age) urbanization on renewable non-renewable energy consumption in Brazil, India, China, South Africa, considering panel data from 1990 to 2019. We control economic growth foreign direct investment inflows as key factors demand function using Stochastic Impacts by Regression Population, Affluence Technology approach. Empirical analysis has been implemented Kernel Regularized Least Squares machine learning method solve possible classification problems traditional regressions without relying linearity assumption. It is observed that dependency, negatively affect both demand. On contrary, are positively associated with The mixed patterns also found. Thus, findings suggest environment policymakers BRICS economies should prioritize urbanization, population improve efficiency.