IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finana/v96y2024ipbs1057521924006239.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The unintended consequence of environmental centralization: Evidence from firm financialization

Author

Listed:
  • Qi, Minhao
  • Liu, Yuxin
  • Hu, Changlong
  • Yang, Zhijiu

Abstract

This study examines the influence of environmental re-centralization, specifically the Vertical Management Reform (VMR) in China, on the investment decisions of polluting firms. Using a staggered difference-in-differences approach, we find that the VMR significantly increases the allocation of resources to financial assets by 12.7 %, accelerating the financialization of polluting firms. The mechanism analysis shows that environmental centralization enhances regulatory enforcement and reduces governmental support, tightening corporate financial constraints. The motivation for firm financialization can be explained by investment substitution rather than precautionary savings. We further show that private firms, firms with more tightened financial constraints and firms with fewer assets become more financialized following the centralization reform. Moreover, the impact on firm financialization diminishes with the distance from provincial capital cities. We reveal the unintended consequence of environmental centralization on firm financialization and provide meaningful implications for changes in institutional arrangements.

Suggested Citation

  • Qi, Minhao & Liu, Yuxin & Hu, Changlong & Yang, Zhijiu, 2024. "The unintended consequence of environmental centralization: Evidence from firm financialization," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:96:y:2024:i:pb:s1057521924006239
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2024.103691
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1057521924006239
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.irfa.2024.103691?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhang, Bing & Chen, Xiaolan & Guo, Huanxiu, 2018. "Does central supervision enhance local environmental enforcement? Quasi-experimental evidence from China," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 70-90.
    2. Hou, Qingsong & Tang, Xiaofang & Teng, Min, 2021. "Labor costs and financialization of real sectors in emerging markets," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    3. Yu, Chin-Hsien & Wu, Xiuqin & Zhang, Dayong & Chen, Shi & Zhao, Jinsong, 2021. "Demand for green finance: Resolving financing constraints on green innovation in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    4. Berman, Eli & Bui, Linda T. M., 2001. "Environmental regulation and labor demand: evidence from the South Coast Air Basin," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(2), pages 265-295, February.
    5. Mitch Kunce & Jason Shogren, 2005. "On Efficiency of Decentralized Environmental Regulation," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 129-140, September.
    6. Demir, FIrat, 2009. "Financial liberalization, private investment and portfolio choice: Financialization of real sectors in emerging markets," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 314-324, March.
    7. Engelbert Stockhammer & Lucas Grafl, 2010. "Financial Uncertainty and Business Investment," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(4), pages 551-568.
    8. Sarah Flèche, 2021. "The Welfare Consequences of Centralization: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in Switzerland," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 103(4), pages 621-635, October.
    9. Molly Lipscomb & Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, 2017. "Decentralization and Pollution Spillovers: Evidence from the Re-drawing of County Borders in Brazil," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 84(1), pages 464-502.
    10. Enikolopov, Ruben & Zhuravskaya, Ekaterina, 2007. "Decentralization and political institutions," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(11-12), pages 2261-2290, December.
    11. Daniel L. Millimet, 2003. "Assessing the Empirical Impact of Environmental Federalism," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(4), pages 711-733, November.
    12. Fazzari, Steven M & Athey, Michael J, 1987. "Asymmetric Information, Financing Constraints, and Investment," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 69(3), pages 481-487, August.
    13. Thorsten Beck & Ross Levine & Alexey Levkov, 2010. "Big Bad Banks? The Winners and Losers from Bank Deregulation in the United States," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 65(5), pages 1637-1667, October.
    14. Zhao, Yan & Su, Kun, 2022. "Economic policy uncertainty and corporate financialization: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    15. Chenggang Xu, 2011. "The Fundamental Institutions of China's Reforms and Development," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 49(4), pages 1076-1151, December.
    16. Guncavdi, Oner & Bleaney, Michael & McKay, Andrew, 1998. "Financial liberalisation and private investment: evidence from Turkey," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(2), pages 443-455.
    17. Ding, Sai & Guariglia, Alessandra & Knight, John, 2013. "Investment and financing constraints in China: Does working capital management make a difference?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 1490-1507.
    18. Hua Wang & Nlandu Mamingi & Benoit Laplante & Susmita Dasgupta, 2003. "Incomplete Enforcement of Pollution Regulation: Bargaining Power of Chinese Factories," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 24(3), pages 245-262, March.
    19. Engelbert Stockhammer, 2004. "Financialisation and the slowdown of accumulation," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 28(5), pages 719-741, September.
    20. Liu, Xing & Liu, Fengzhong, 2022. "Environmental regulation and corporate financial asset allocation: A natural experiment from the new environmental protection law in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PA).
    21. James R. Faulconbridge & Daniel Muzio, 2009. "The financialization of large law firms: situated discourses and practices of reorganization," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 9(5), pages 641-661, September.
    22. Opler, Tim & Pinkowitz, Lee & Stulz, Rene & Williamson, Rohan, 1999. "The determinants and implications of corporate cash holdings," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 3-46, April.
    23. Zhang, Wei & Liu, Xuemeng & Wang, Die & Zhou, Jianping, 2022. "Digital economy and carbon emission performance: Evidence at China's city level," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    24. Charles J. Hadlock & Joshua R. Pierce, 2010. "New Evidence on Measuring Financial Constraints: Moving Beyond the KZ Index," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 23(5), pages 1909-1940.
    25. Jiaqi Chen & Fangzhao Zhou & Zhifang He & Hui Fu, 2020. "Second-generation Succession and the Financialization of Assets: An Empirical Study of Chinese Family Firms," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(14), pages 3294-3319, November.
    26. Qian, Xuesong & Ding, Hai & Ding, Zifang, 2023. "Governmental inspection and firm environmental protection expenditure: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    27. Brown, James R. & Petersen, Bruce C., 2011. "Cash holdings and R&D smoothing," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 694-709, June.
    28. Pranab Bardhan & Dilip Mookherjee, 2006. "Decentralisation and Accountability in Infrastructure Delivery in Developing Countries," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 116(508), pages 101-127, January.
    29. Sun, Liyang & Abraham, Sarah, 2021. "Estimating dynamic treatment effects in event studies with heterogeneous treatment effects," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 175-199.
    30. Lucie Gadenne & Monica Singhal, 2014. "Decentralization in Developing Economies," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 6(1), pages 581-604, August.
    31. Qianwei Ying & Yanyan Zhu & Mengchao Yao & Ziyang Li, 2021. "Does stock market liberalisation restrain corporate financialisation?," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(5), pages 6263-6294, December.
    32. Liu, Zehao & Tang, Huoqing & Zhang, Chengsi, 2023. "Corporate governance, moral hazard, and financialization," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 318-331.
    33. Han, Chao & Tian, Xian-Liang, 2022. "Less pollution under a more centralized environmental system: Evidence from vertical environmental reforms in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    34. Yang, Xingquan & Zhao, Rui & Yang, Zheng, 2024. "Preventive regulation and corporate financialization: Evidence from China Securities Regulatory Commission's random inspections," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    35. Ruixue Jia & Huihua Nie, 2017. "Decentralization, Collusion, and Coal Mine Deaths," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 99(1), pages 105-118, March.
    36. Ran Duchin & Thomas Gilbert & Jarrad Harford & Christopher Hrdlicka, 2017. "Precautionary Savings with Risky Assets: When Cash Is Not Cash," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 72(2), pages 793-852, April.
    37. van 't Veld, Klaas & Shogren, Jason F., 2012. "Environmental federalism and environmental liability," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 63(1), pages 105-119.
    38. Daniele Tori & Özlem Onaran, 2018. "The effects of financialization on investment: evidence from firm-level data for the UK," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 42(5), pages 1393-1416.
    39. Jiaqi Chen & Fangzhao Zhou & Zhifang He & Hui Fu, 2020. "Second-generation Succession and the Financialization of Assets: An Empirical Study of Chinese Family Firms," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(14), pages 3294-3319, November.
    40. Kong, Dongmin & Liu, Chenhao, 2024. "Centralization and regulatory enforcement: Evidence from personnel authority reform in China," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    41. Rong, Zhao & Wang, Wenchun & Gong, Qiang, 2016. "Housing price appreciation, investment opportunity, and firm innovation: Evidence from China," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 34-58.
    42. Callaway, Brantly & Sant’Anna, Pedro H.C., 2021. "Difference-in-Differences with multiple time periods," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 200-230.
    43. Jin, Haizhen, 2023. "Effects of decentralization on firm performance: Evidence from Chinese county-level quasi-experiments," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    44. Oates, Wallace E. & Schwab, Robert M., 1988. "Economic competition among jurisdictions: efficiency enhancing or distortion inducing?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 333-354, April.
    45. Hao, Zhuoqun & Liu, Yu & Zhang, Jinfan & Zhao, Xiaoxue, 2020. "Political connection, corporate philanthropy and efficiency: Evidence from China’s anti-corruption campaign," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 688-708.
    46. Shan Xu & Lili Guo, 2023. "Financialization and Corporate Performance in China: Promotion or Inhibition?," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 59(3), pages 776-817, September.
    47. Chen, Gao & Xu, Jian & Qi, Yu, 2022. "Environmental (de)centralization and local environmental governance: Evidence from a natural experiment in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    48. Cao, Guangyu & Liu, Chenran & Zhou, Li-An, 2023. "Suing the government under weak rule of law: Evidence from administrative litigation reform in China," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    49. Huang, Bingbing & Cui, Yuying & Chan, Kam C., 2022. "Firm-level financialization: Contributing factors, sources, and economic consequences," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1153-1162.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tan, Jing & Liu, Tianyi & Xu, Hao, 2024. "The environmental and economic consequences of environmental centralization: Evidence from China's environmental vertical management reform," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    2. Kong, Dongmin & Liu, Chenhao, 2024. "Centralization and regulatory enforcement: Evidence from personnel authority reform in China," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    3. Chen, Jidong & Shi, Xinzheng & Zhang, Ming-ang & Zhang, Sihan, 2024. "Centralization of environmental administration and air pollution: Evidence from China," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    4. Zhang, Xiaoliang & Zheng, Xiaojia, 2024. "Does carbon emission trading policy induce financialization of non-financial firms? Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    5. Yang, Baochen & Chen, Fengrui, 2023. "The financialization of nonfinancial companies in China: A macroeconomic perspective," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    6. Ju, Chunhua & Fang, Xusheng & Shen, Zhonghua, 2024. "Investor attention and corporate financialization: Evidence from internet search volume," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    7. Fu, Xiaoxia & Wang, Shanshan & Jia, Jia, 2024. "Equity incentives and dynamic adjustments to corporate financialization: Evidence from Chinese A-share listed companies," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 948-966.
    8. Liu, Xiaoying & Wang, Yujing & Li, Meng & Gao, Haoyu, 2024. "The importance of speed to corporate financial asset holdings: Evidence from high-speed rail," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    9. Liao, Yinchao & Wang, Jun & Liao, Wenru & Shu, Xiaoyang & Li, Zhiyong, 2024. "Buffer or substitute? Corporate financialization and leverage manipulation," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    10. Liu, Xiangsheng & Lv, Lingli, 2023. "The effect of China's low carbon city pilot policy on corporate financialization," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    11. Qi, Yong & Yang, Yudi & Yang, Shuo & Lyu, Simeng, 2021. "Does government funding promote or inhibit the financialization of manufacturing enterprises? Evidence from listed Chinese enterprises," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    12. Yang, Jizhe & Jiang, Tingfeng & Wen, Xingchun & Dai, Lu, 2024. "Time-varying and spillover effects of the macroeconomy on nonfinancial corporate financialization: Evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    13. Ke Guo & Xuemeng Guo & Jun Zhang, 2023. "Financial asset allocation duality and enterprise upgrading: empirical evidence from the Chinese A-share market," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    14. Yu, Lianchao & Liu, Donghui & Liu, Qiang & Han, Hongling, 2025. "De-localization of environmental governance and corporate innovation structure: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).
    15. Zhong, Tingyong & Duan, Ying & Ding, Zhiguo, 2024. "How bankruptcy system innovation affects firm investment behavior: A quasi-natural experiment based on the establishment of bankruptcy courts in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    16. You, Chen & Cifuentes-Faura, Javier & Liu, Xiaoqian & Wu, Jinqun, 2024. "Can the government environmental vertical reform reduce air pollution? A quasi-natural experiment in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 947-963.
    17. Ma, Sichao & Shen, Ji & Wang, Fanzhi & Wu, Wanting, 2022. "A tale of two Us: Corporate leverage and financial asset allocation in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    18. Zhao, Yan & Su, Kun, 2022. "Economic policy uncertainty and corporate financialization: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    19. Gao, Yihong & Gao, Jiayan, 2023. "Low-carbon transformation and corporate cash holdings," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    20. Shuxia Zhang & Xiangyang Yin & Liping Xu & Ziyu Li & Deyue Kong, 2022. "Effect of Environmental, Social, and Governance Performance on Corporate Financialization: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-20, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:96:y:2024:i:pb:s1057521924006239. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/620166 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.