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Double standards? The adverse impact of chairperson hometown ties on corporate green innovation

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  • Xu, Nianhang
  • Li, Min
  • Xie, Rongrong
  • Chan, Kam C.

Abstract

Using a sample of Chinese firms from 2000 to 2018, we document that hometown firms (firms with hometown chairpersons) engage in less green innovation than non-hometown firms. Evidence suggests that local stakeholders offer hometown chairpersons more protection from environmental consequences than non-hometown chairpersons. We identify two possible mechanisms: government patronage and accommodation by local supply chain partners. Furthermore, we find that the double standards are alleviated with insignificant difference in corporate green innovation when non-hometown chairpersons marry hometown spouses or build local political relationships. Additional analyses suggest that (1) the double standards drive hometown firms to emit more pollutants than non-hometown firms, (2) when a firm is under government scrutiny for environmental issues, located in the city with severe air pollution, or in heavily polluting industries, the adverse effect of a chairperson's hometown on green innovation is minimal, and (3) our findings on green innovation also extend to a decrease in the number of pollutant treatment facilities and treatment capacity in a firm.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu, Nianhang & Li, Min & Xie, Rongrong & Chan, Kam C., 2024. "Double standards? The adverse impact of chairperson hometown ties on corporate green innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:88:y:2024:i:c:s0929119924001020
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2024.102640
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Hometown chairperson; Green innovation; Double standards; Environment protection; Social capital;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G3 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics

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