IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/pacfin/v86y2024ics0927538x24002014.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does environmental governance mitigate the detriment of greenwashing on innovation in China?

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Lu
  • Ma, Yan
  • Feng, Gen-Fu
  • Chang, Chun-Ping

Abstract

The study examines the impact of greenwashing on corporate innovation and its governance mechanisms using a sample of 1337 Chinese A-share listed enterprises from 2009 to 2021. The results indicate that greenwashing behavior inhibits corporate innovation output, adversely affecting long-term value realization. More importantly, we explore positive roles of government and corporate internal environmental governance measures in regulating corporate deceptive “greenwashing” behavior. Through environmental policy tools, such as environmental subsidies and penalties, governments can provide positive incentives and negative constraints for corporate environmental governance. Furthermore, improving green investment and board environmental background can build a virtuous corporate internal incentive mechanism. Both inhibit the costs and incentives of greenwashing, prompting enterprises to focus more on long-term development and innovation investment. Additionally, greenwashing has more significant effects in green innovation, high-tech industries, and high-financing constrained enterprises. Our findings provide new insights into the economic consequences of greenwashing and its effective governance measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Lu & Ma, Yan & Feng, Gen-Fu & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Does environmental governance mitigate the detriment of greenwashing on innovation in China?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:86:y:2024:i:c:s0927538x24002014
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2024.102450
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927538X24002014
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.pacfin.2024.102450?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. Han Long & Gen-Fu Feng & Chun-Ping Chang, 2023. "How does ESG performance promote corporate green innovation?," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 2889-2913, August.
    2. Francesco Testa & Olivier Boiral & Fabio Iraldo, 2018. "Internalization of Environmental Practices and Institutional Complexity: Can Stakeholders Pressures Encourage Greenwashing?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(2), pages 287-307, January.
    3. Chen, Yufeng & Ma, Yanbai, 2021. "Does green investment improve energy firm performance?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    4. Niu, Bingcheng, 2024. "Government environmental protection expenditure and national ESG performance: Global evidence," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    5. Cui, Xin & Wang, Chunfeng & Liao, Jing & Fang, Zhenming & Cheng, Feiyang, 2021. "Economic policy uncertainty exposure and corporate innovation investment: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    6. John C. Driscoll & Aart C. Kraay, 1998. "Consistent Covariance Matrix Estimation With Spatially Dependent Panel Data," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 80(4), pages 549-560, November.
    7. Ping‐Chuan Jiang & Gen‐Fu Feng & Hai‐Jie Wang & Chun‐Ping Chang, 2024. "CSR from different perspectives: The global ESG indexes updated," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4694-4714, September.
    8. Wei Li & Weining Li & Veikko Seppänen & Timo Koivumäki, 2023. "Effects of greenwashing on financial performance: Moderation through local environmental regulation and media coverage," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 820-841, January.
    9. Juzhang Feng & Sha Tang & Junhao Zhong, 2024. "Can corporate environmental, social, and governance performance influence foreign institutional investors to hold shares? Evidence from China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4310-4330, July.
    10. Fan, Chenguang & Bae, Seongho & Liu, Yu, 2024. "Can FinTech transform corporate liquidity? Evidence from China," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    11. Wang, Jun-Zhuo & Feng, Gen-Fu & Yin, Hua-Tang & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2023. "Toward sustainable development: Does the rising oil price stimulate innovation in climate change mitigation technologies?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 569-583.
    12. Yan Xue & Caidong Jiang & Yunxia Guo & Jianmin Liu & Haitao Wu & Yu Hao, 2022. "Corporate Social Responsibility and High-quality Development: Do Green Innovation, Environmental Investment and Corporate Governance Matter?," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(11), pages 3191-3214, September.
    13. Sajid, Muhammed & Zakkariya, K.A. & Suki, Norazah Mohd & Islam, Jamid Ul, 2024. "When going green goes wrong: The effects of greenwashing on brand avoidance and negative word-of-mouth," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    14. Ping Zhang & Yiru Wang & Ruyan Wang & Tewei Wang, 2024. "Digital finance and corporate innovation: evidence from China," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(5), pages 615-638, January.
    15. Niu, Peng & Sun, Kun & Sun, Lirong & Chang, Chao-Wen, 2024. "The political economy and green innovation: A scientometric analysis," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    16. Tan, Yafei & Zhu, Zhaohui, 2022. "The effect of ESG rating events on corporate green innovation in China: The mediating role of financial constraints and managers' environmental awareness," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    17. Teti, Emanuele & Etro, Leonardo L. & Pausini, Lorenzo, 2024. "Does greenwashing affect Company's stock Price? Evidence from Europe," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    18. Eun-Hee Kim & Thomas P. Lyon, 2015. "Greenwash vs. Brownwash: Exaggeration and Undue Modesty in Corporate Sustainability Disclosure," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(3), pages 705-723, June.
    19. Geng, Yong & Liu, Wei & Li, Kai & Chen, Hanshu, 2021. "Environmental regulation and corporate tax avoidance: A quasi-natural experiment based on the eleventh Five-Year Plan in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    20. Yu, Ellen Pei-yi & Luu, Bac Van & Chen, Catherine Huirong, 2020. "Greenwashing in environmental, social and governance disclosures," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    21. Han, Xinyu & Cai, Qihua, 2024. "Environmental regulation, green credit, and corporate environmental investment," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    22. Long, Han & Feng, Genfu, 2024. "Does national ESG performance curb greenhouse gas emissions?," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    23. Pedersen, Lasse Heje & Fitzgibbons, Shaun & Pomorski, Lukasz, 2021. "Responsible investing: The ESG-efficient frontier," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(2), pages 572-597.
    24. Raihan, Asif & Mainul Bari, A.B.M., 2024. "Energy-economy-environment nexus in China: The role of renewable energies toward carbon neutrality," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    25. Gen-Fu Feng & Xudong Li, 2024. "The Roles of Anti-Monopoly on Green Innovation: Evidence from the Chinese Manufacturing Industry," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 60(1), pages 1-18, January.
    26. Ahakwa, Isaac & Tackie, Evelyn Agba & Tackie, Faustina Korkor & Mangudhla, Tinashe & Baig, Jibal & Islam, Sartaj ul & Sarpong, Francis Atta, 2024. "Greening the path to carbon neutrality in the post-COP26 era: Embracing green energy, green innovation, and green human capital," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    27. Li, Ruiqian & Ramanathan, Ramakrishnan, 2024. "The interactive effect of environmental penalties and environmental subsidies on corporate environmental innovation: Is more better or worse?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    28. Ren, Xiaohang & Zeng, Gudian & Zhao, Yang, 2023. "Digital finance and corporate ESG performance: Empirical evidence from listed companies in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    29. Lu, Zhenye & Lin, Yongjia & Li, You, 2023. "Does corporate engagement in digital transformation influence greenwashing? Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PD).
    30. Safi Ullah Khan & Attaullah Shah & Mohammad Faisal Rizwan, 2021. "Do Financing Constraints Matter for Technological and Non-technological Innovation? A (Re)examination of Developing Markets," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(9), pages 2739-2766, July.
    31. Zhang, Ning & Ren, Ran & Zhang, Qiong & Zhang, Tao, 2020. "Air pollution and tourism development: An interplay," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    32. Jeong‐Bon Kim & Bing Li & Zhenbin Liu, 2018. "Does social performance influence breadth of ownership?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(9-10), pages 1164-1194, October.
    33. Kelly, Arsene Mouongue & Ngo Nguéda Radler, Romaine Doline, 2024. "Does energy consumption matter for climate change in Africa? New insights from panel data analysis," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    34. Ren, Shenggang & Sun, Helin & Zhang, Tao, 2021. "Do environmental subsidies spur environmental innovation? Empirical evidence from Chinese listed firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    35. Pengyu Chen & Abd Alwahed Dagestani, 2023. "Greenwashing behavior and firm value – From the perspective of board characteristics," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(5), pages 2330-2343, September.
    36. Chen, Xia & Fu, Qiang & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2021. "What are the shocks of climate change on clean energy investment: A diversified exploration," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    37. Chen, Zhongfei & Xie, Guanxia, 2022. "ESG disclosure and financial performance: Moderating role of ESG investors," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    38. Sui, Bo & Sharma, Susan Sunila & Yao, Liu-Yang & Ni, Guo-Hua & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Does aging affect renewable energy? The role of extreme events and economic development," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    39. Aguirre, Mariana & Ibikunle, Gbenga, 2014. "Determinants of renewable energy growth: A global sample analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 374-384.
    40. Feng, Gen-Fu & Niu, Peng & Wang, Jun-Zhuo & Liu, Jian, 2022. "Capital market liberalization and green innovation for sustainability: Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 610-623.
    41. Rahman, Md. Hasanur & Tanchangya, Tipon & Rahman, Junaid & Aktar, Most. Asikha & Majumder, Shapan Chandra, 2024. "Corporate social responsibility and green financing behavior in Bangladesh: Towards sustainable tourism," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    42. Toni M. Whited & Guojun Wu, 2006. "Financial Constraints Risk," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 19(2), pages 531-559.
    43. Kawasaki, Akio & Naito, Tohru, 2024. "The influence of transportation costs and environmental damage on social welfare under asymmetric multi-market mixed oligopoly," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    44. Douglas Staiger & James H. Stock, 1997. "Instrumental Variables Regression with Weak Instruments," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 65(3), pages 557-586, May.
    45. Zhang, Dongyang, 2023. "Can environmental monitoring power transition curb corporate greenwashing behavior?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 199-218.
    46. Staub, Selva & Kaynak, Ramazan & Gok, Tarkan, 2016. "What affects sustainability and innovation — Hard or soft corporate identity?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 72-79.
    47. Chkir, Imed & El Haj Hassan, Boushra & Rjiba, Hatem & Saadi, Samir, 2021. "Does corporate social responsibility influence corporate innovation? International evidence," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    48. Şükrü Özen & Fatma Küskü, 2009. "Corporate Environmental Citizenship Variation in Developing Countries: An Institutional Framework," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 89(2), pages 297-313, October.
    49. Hong, Jin & Feng, Bing & Wu, Yanrui & Wang, Liangbing, 2016. "Do government grants promote innovation efficiency in China's high-tech industries?," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 57, pages 4-13.
    50. Dai, Xiaoyong & Chapman, Gary, 2022. "R&D tax incentives and innovation: Examining the role of programme design in China," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    51. 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.
    52. Szerena Szabo & Jane Webster, 2021. "Perceived Greenwashing: The Effects of Green Marketing on Environmental and Product Perceptions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 171(4), pages 719-739, July.
    53. Bhat, Aijaz Ahmad & Mir, Ajaz Akber & Allie, Adeel Hussain & Ahmad Lone, Mushtaq & Al-Adwan, Ahmad Samed & Jamali, Dima & Riyaz, Iqra, 2024. "Unlocking corporate social responsibility and environmental performance: Mediating role of green strategy, innovation, and leadership," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    54. Jinhua Cui & Hoje Jo & Haejung Na, 2018. "Does Corporate Social Responsibility Affect Information Asymmetry?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(3), pages 549-572, March.
    55. Caterina Di Tommaso & John Thornton, 2020. "Do ESG scores effect bank risk taking and value? Evidence from European banks," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 2286-2298, September.
    56. Bajaj, Megha & Sasaki, Nophea & Tsusaka, Takuji W. & Venkatappa, Manjunatha & Abe, Issei & Shrestha, Rajendra P., 2024. "Assessing changes in mangrove forest cover and carbon stocks in the Lower Mekong Region using Google Earth Engine," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).
    57. Chen, Di & Hu, Haiqing & Wang, Ning & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "The impact of green finance on transformation to green energy: Evidence from industrial enterprises in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    58. Zhang, Dongyang, 2023. "Does green finance really inhibit extreme hypocritical ESG risk? A greenwashing perspective exploration," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    59. Changchun Zhu & Na Li & Jing Ma, 2023. "Environmental backgrounds of CEOs and corporate environmental management information disclosure: The mediating effects of financing constraints and media attention," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 2885-2905, November.
    60. Salihi, Awaisu Adamu & Ibrahim, Haslindar & Baharudin, Dayana Mastura, 2024. "Environmental governance as a driver of green innovation capacity and firm value creation," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    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. Chen, Xia & Zhang, Huimin & Zhao, Xin Xin & Gong, Qiang & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Do renewable energy investment and financial development mitigate climate change?," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    2. Wen, Jun & Yin, Hua-Tang & Chang, Chun-Ping & Tang, Kai, 2024. "How AI shapes greener futures: Comparative insights from equity vs debt investment responses in renewable energy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    3. Wang, Jun-Zhuo & Feng, Gen-Fu & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "How does political instability affect renewable energy innovation?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    4. Chen, Di & Hu, Haiqing & Wang, Ning & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "The impact of green finance on transformation to green energy: Evidence from industrial enterprises in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    5. Chen, Mo & Xue, Wei-Xian & Zhao, Xin-Xin & Chang, Chun-Ping & Liu, Xiaoxia, 2024. "The impact of economic sanctions on the COVID-19 pandemic," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 163-174.
    6. Wang, Hai-Jie & Zheng, Mei-Qi & Yin, Hua-Tang & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Green innovation, industrial structure and urban eco-efficiency in Chinese cities," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1011-1024.
    7. Long, Han & Prasad, Biman & Krishna, Victor & Tang, Kai & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Understanding the key determinants of Fiji's renewable energy," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1144-1157.
    8. Wang, Quan-Jing & Sharma, Susan Sunila & Ni, Guo-Hua & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Governance, energy utilization and environmental protection: Role of extreme events," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    9. Sui, Bo & Sharma, Susan Sunila & Yao, Liu-Yang & Ni, Guo-Hua & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Does aging affect renewable energy? The role of extreme events and economic development," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    10. Tan, Ruipeng & Cai, Qijun & Pan, Lulu, 2024. "Faking for fortune: Emissions trading schemes and corporate greenwashing in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    11. Gao, Zhiyuan & Zhao, Ying & Li, Lianqing & Hao, Yu, 2024. "Echoes of dependency: The impact of resource reliance on green industry transformation in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    12. Hu, Xinwen & Hua, Renhai & Liu, Qingfu & Wang, Chuanjie, 2023. "The green fog: Environmental rating disagreement and corporate greenwashing," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    13. Li, Yunzhong & Zhao, Yu & Ye, Chengfang & Li, Xiaofan & Tao, Yunqing, 2024. "ESG ratings and the cost of equity capital in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    14. Yixuan Chen & Shanyue Jin, 2023. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Green Technology Innovation: The Moderating Role of Stakeholders," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.
    15. Xiang, Yilin & Chen, Lu & Zhang, Zhenya & Sun, Xinyu, 2024. "Does perceived greenwashing promote or inhibit ethical voice? Effects of moral disengagement and perceived competitive pressure," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    16. Yin, Hua-Tang & Chang, Chun-Ping & Anugrah, Donni Fajar & Gunadi, Iman, 2023. "Gender equality and central bank independence," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 661-672.
    17. Carlos Ignacio Gallo Aguila & María del Pilar Castro Arellano & Marco Antonio Rodríguez Vega & Eliana Maritza Barturen Mondragón & María del Pilar Quezada Castro & Guillermo Alexander Quezada Cast, 2024. "Trends in Scientific Production on Greenwashing based on Scopus (1990-2023)," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(4), pages 464-471, July.
    18. Pengyu Chen & Abd Alwahed Dagestani, 2023. "Greenwashing behavior and firm value – From the perspective of board characteristics," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(5), pages 2330-2343, September.
    19. Zhang, Dongyang & Wang, Cao & Miao, Shan & Deng, Lei, 2024. "The impact of firm's ESG performance on the skill premium: Evidence from China's green finance reform pilot zone," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    20. Shi, Daqian & Lu, Shan & Fang, Ziwei, 2024. "The effect of executive green human capital on greenwashing," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental governance; ESG; Greenwashing; Innovation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:pacfin:v:86:y:2024:i:c:s0927538x24002014. 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/pacfin .

    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.