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Long‐term economic consequences of corporate environmental responsibility: Evidence from heavily polluting listed companies in China

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  • Fei Xu
  • Mian Yang
  • Qiangyi Li
  • Xiaolei Yang

Abstract

In this study, we aim to investigate the long‐term economic consequences of corporate environmental responsibility (CER) by companies from the perspective of earnings persistence and investors' response. Based on firm‐level data of 1,010 heavily polluting listed companies in China, the empirical results are as follows. First, the CER of China's heavily polluting listed companies has significantly improved their earnings persistence, that is, earnings quality. Second, the positive long‐term economic effect of CER has been achieved through two paths: improving companies' operational efficiency and reducing their credit costs. Third, CER increases investors' response to heavily polluting companies' accounting earnings. Moreover, state‐owned listed companies achieve more significant positive long‐term economic effects from CER than others. The results suggest that heavily polluting companies should correctly identify the long‐term value of CER rather than pay excessive attention to the impact of CER on their current costs and benefits.

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  • Fei Xu & Mian Yang & Qiangyi Li & Xiaolei Yang, 2020. "Long‐term economic consequences of corporate environmental responsibility: Evidence from heavily polluting listed companies in China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 2251-2264, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:29:y:2020:i:6:p:2251-2264
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2500
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    12. Yuanyang Wang & Yanlin Yang & Chenyu Fu & Zengzeng Fan & Xiaoping Zhou, 2021. "Environmental regulation, environmental responsibility, and green technology innovation: Empirical research from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-21, September.
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    17. Yang, Cheng & Zhang, Wenzhe & Sheng, Yan & Yang, Zhiqing, 2021. "Corruption and firm efforts on environmental protection: Evidence from a policy shock," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    18. Yuan Chen & Vinod Singhal & Qinghua Zhu, 2021. "Environmental policies and financial performance: stock market reaction to firms for their proactive environmental practices recognized by governmental programs," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1548-1562, May.
    19. Syed Ghulam Meran Shah & Muddassar Sarfraz & Larisa Ivascu, 2021. "Assessing the interrelationship corporate environmental responsibility, innovative strategies, cognitive and hierarchical CEO: A stakeholder theory perspective," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 457-473, January.
    20. Zhang, Weike & Luo, Qian & Liu, Shiyuan, 2022. "Is government regulation a push for corporate environmental performance? Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 105-121.

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