The Intertwined Threads of Blue Economy, Inclusive Growth, and Environmental Sustainability in Transition Economies

This research creates the critical relationship between the blue economy, inclusive growth, and environmental sustainability in 17 transitional economies from 2000 to 2022. Using panel-corrected standard errors (PCSEs) and the Driscoll–Kraay standard error regression approach, we examine how inclusive growth significantly decreases the ecological footprint while the blue economy increases these effects through sustainable marine resource utilization and clean technologies. Focusing on countries such as Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka, this study advances the understanding of how the blue economy fosters sustainability amidst rising consumption pressures. The findings underscore the potential of technology transfer, capacity building, regional collaboration and green finance mechanisms to unlock the blue economy’s full potential for inclusive and sustainable development, offering actionable insights for policymakers and future research directions in developing and transitional economies.