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Is corporate environmental responsibility synergistic with governmental environmental responsibility? Evidence from China

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  • Xiaohong Chen
  • Jiefu Zhang
  • Huixiang Zeng

Abstract

Local governments and enterprises are two important actors in China's environmental governance system. A better understanding of the interaction between corporate environmental responsibility (CER) and governmental environmental responsibility (GER) will help to enhance the collaboration between corporations and the government, craft a good environmental governance system, and achieve coordinated development of economic development and environmental protection. This paper divides GER into three types: policymaking responsibility, implementation responsibility, and supervisory responsibility. Based on panel data on Chinese manufacturing companies listed during the period 2012–2017, this paper analyzes the relationship between GER and CER and explores the impact of the collaboration between the two on regional environmental pollution. The research results show the following: (1) in China, policymaking responsibility significantly promotes CER, whereas implementation responsibility has a significant negative impact on CER, and supervisory responsibility has no significant influence. (2) The collaboration between GER and CER effectively reduces solid waste discharge in a region but does not significantly reduce SO2 emissions or wastewater discharge.

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  • Xiaohong Chen & Jiefu Zhang & Huixiang Zeng, 2020. "Is corporate environmental responsibility synergistic with governmental environmental responsibility? Evidence from China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3669-3686, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:29:y:2020:i:8:p:3669-3686
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2603
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