IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i17p7068-d406154.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Family Control, Political Connection, and Corporate Green Governance

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaolin Li

    (School of Economy & Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, China)

  • Weian Li

    (China Academy of Corporate Governance/Business School, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
    Business School, Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, Tianjin 300222, China)

  • Yaowei Zhang

    (China Academy of Corporate Governance/Business School, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China)

Abstract

This paper firstly introduces green governance into the empirical research of family firms. Due to the fact that family firms have their own particularity in the principal agent and also have a strong desire to preserve social emotional wealth, this paper deeply studies the driving influence of family control on the green governance of family firms, and analyzes the moderating effect based on the political connection of executives. Taking the 2015–2017 Chinese family-listed firms that released social responsibility reports as the research sample, we find that family control contributes to the improvement of corporate green governance in family firms. However, the political connection of the actual controller weakens the effect of family control on the green governance of family firms. In addition, this research is also carried out under different situations, such as at the regional level and individual level. The research helps family firms give full play to their own advantages, guide the green governance practice of family firms, and improve the level of green governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaolin Li & Weian Li & Yaowei Zhang, 2020. "Family Control, Political Connection, and Corporate Green Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:17:p:7068-:d:406154
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/17/7068/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/17/7068/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Bingham & W. Gibb Dyer & Isaac Smith & Gregory Adams, 2011. "A Stakeholder Identity Orientation Approach to Corporate Social Performance in Family Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 99(4), pages 565-585, April.
    2. Carsten Herrmann-Pillath, 2009. "Social capital, Chinese style: individualism, relational collectivism and the cultural embeddedness of the institutions–performance link," China Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(3), pages 325-350.
    3. Camelia-Daniela Hategan & Ruxandra-Ioana Curea-Pitorac & Vasile-Petru Hategan, 2019. "The Romanian Family Businesses Philosophy for Performance and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-22, March.
    4. Iman Harymawan & Mohammad Nasih & Muhammad Madyan & Diarany Sucahyati, 2019. "The Role of Political Connections on Family Firms’ Performance: Evidence from Indonesia," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Samara, Georges & Jamali, Dima & Sierra, Vicenta & Parada, Maria Jose, 2018. "Who are the best performers? The environmental social performance of family firms," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 33-43.
    6. Ilya Okhmatovskiy & Robert J. David, 2012. "Setting Your Own Standards: Internal Corporate Governance Codes as a Response to Institutional Pressure," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(1), pages 155-176, February.
    7. Birger Wernerfelt, 1984. "A resource‐based view of the firm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(2), pages 171-180, April.
    8. Runhui Lin & Yuan Gui & Zaiyang Xie & Lu Liu, 2019. "Green Governance and International Business Strategies of Emerging Economies’ Multinational Enterprises: A Multiple-Case Study of Chinese Firms in Pollution-Intensive Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-32, February.
    9. Shuping Chen & Xia Chen & Qiang Cheng, 2008. "Do Family Firms Provide More or Less Voluntary Disclosure?," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(3), pages 499-536, June.
    10. Claessens, Stijn & Djankov, Simeon & Lang, Larry H. P., 2000. "The separation of ownership and control in East Asian Corporations," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(1-2), pages 81-112.
    11. Julie Dekker & Tim Hasso, 2016. "Environmental Performance Focus in Private Family Firms: The Role of Social Embeddedness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 293-309, June.
    12. Boubakri, Narjess & Cosset, Jean-Claude & Saffar, Walid, 2008. "Political connections of newly privatized firms," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 14(5), pages 654-673, December.
    13. Thomas M. Zellweger & Franz W. Kellermanns & James J. Chrisman & Jess H. Chua, 2012. "Family Control and Family Firm Valuation by Family CEOs: The Importance of Intentions for Transgenerational Control," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(3), pages 851-868, June.
    14. W. Gibb Dyer Jr. & David A. Whetten, 2006. "Family Firms and Social Responsibility: Preliminary Evidence from the S&P 500," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 30(6), pages 785-802, November.
    15. Shubo Liu & Min-Ren Yan, 2018. "Corporate Sustainability and Green Innovation in an Emerging Economy—An Empirical Study in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-29, November.
    16. Weian Li & Jian Xu & Minna Zheng, 2018. "Green Governance: New Perspective from Open Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, October.
    17. Anderson, Ronald C & Reeb, David M, 2003. "Founding-Family Ownership, Corporate Diversification, and Firm Leverage," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 46(2), pages 653-684, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Saier Su & Fei Zhu & Haibo Zhou, 2022. "A Systematic Literature Review on Ownership and Corporate Social Responsibility in Family Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-25, June.
    2. Shih-Hsien Tseng & Tien Son Nguyen & Ruei-Ci Wang, 2021. "The Lie Algebraic Approach for Determining Pricing for Trade Account Options," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-9, January.
    3. Hongda Liu & Pinbo Yao & Xiaoxia Wang & Jialiang Huang & Liying Yu, 2021. "Research on the Peer Behavior of Local Government Green Governance Based on SECI Expansion Model," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-26, May.
    4. Moses Elaigwu & Salau Olarinoye Abdulmalik & Abdelkader Alghorbany & Ayoib Che‐Ahmad, 2024. "Sustainability reporting quality in Malaysia: The intricacy of family controlled and politically connected firms," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4190-4210, September.
    5. Shilei Hu & Xiaohong Wang, 2021. "The Origin of Proactive Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility (ECSR) of Large Firms: Institutional Embeddedness—Driven, Family Involvement-Promoted, or Resource-Dependent?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-23, January.
    6. Syed Quaid Ali Shah & Fong-Woon Lai & Muhammad Kashif Shad & Ahmad Ali Jan, 2022. "Developing a Green Governance Framework for the Performance Enhancement of the Oil and Gas Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, March.

    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. Cabeza-García, Laura & Sacristán-Navarro, María & Gómez-Ansón, Silvia, 2017. "Family involvement and corporate social responsibility disclosure," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 8(2), pages 109-122.
    2. James J. Cordeiro & Giorgia Profumo & Ilaria Tutore, 2021. "Family ownership and stockholder reactions to environmental performance disclosure: A test of secondary agency relationships," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 2091-2107, May.
    3. Lorenzo Dal Maso & Rodrigo Basco & Thomas Bassetti & Nicola Lattanzi, 2020. "Family ownership and environmental performance: The mediation effect of human resource practices," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 1548-1562, March.
    4. Giovanna Gavana & Pietro Gottardo & Anna Maria Moisello, 2016. "Sustainability Reporting in Family Firms: A Panel Data Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-18, December.
    5. Gianluca Ginesti & Mario Ossorio, 2021. "The influence of family-related factors on intellectual capital performance in family businesses," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 25(2), pages 535-560, June.
    6. Giovanna Gavana & Pietro Gottardo & Anna Maria Moisello, 2023. "Board diversity and corporate social performance in family firms. The moderating effect of the institutional and business environment," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(5), pages 2194-2218, September.
    7. Cao, Feng & Li, Sifei & Dai, Ming & Li, Jing, 2023. "Your heart is where your treasure is: Family chairman and tax avoidance in family-controlled firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    8. Limin Geng & Xueyuan Lu & Can Zhang, 2023. "The Theoretical Lineage and Evolutionary Logic of Research on the Environmental Behavior of Family Firms: A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-23, March.
    9. Rehman, Atiqa & Gonenc, Halit & Hermes, Niels, 2023. "Corporate social performance of family firms and shareholder protection: An international analysis," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 14(2).
    10. Isabel‐María García‐Sánchez & Julia Martín‐Moreno & Sana Akbar Khan & Nazim Hussain, 2021. "Socio‐emotional wealth and corporate responses to environmental hostility: Are family firms more stakeholder oriented?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 1003-1018, February.
    11. Weng, Tzu-Ching & Chi, Hsin-Yi, 2024. "Family succession and cost of bank loans: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PB), pages 638-655.
    12. Jiang, Fuxiu & Cai, Xinni & Nofsinger, John R. & Zheng, Xiaojia, 2020. "Can reputation concern restrain bad news hoarding in family firms?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    13. Schmid, Thomas & Ampenberger, Markus & Kaserer, Christoph & Achleitner, Ann-Kristin, 2010. "Controlling shareholders and payout policy: do founding families have a special 'taste for dividends'?," CEFS Working Paper Series 2010-01, Technische Universität München (TUM), Center for Entrepreneurial and Financial Studies (CEFS).
    14. El Ghoul, Sadok & Guedhami, Omrane & Wang, He & Kwok, Chuck C.Y., 2016. "Family control and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 131-146.
    15. Kimberly A. Eddleston & Jay P. Mulki, 2021. "Differences in Family-Owned SMEs’ Ethical Behavior: A Mixed Gamble Perspective of Family Firm Tax Evasion," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(4), pages 767-791, July.
    16. Haider, Zulfiquer & Wang, Yefeng & Wang, Yuan, 2024. "Family firm, financial constraint, and environmental preparedness: An international study," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    17. Isabel-María García-Sánchez & Lázaro Rodríguez-Ariza & María-del-Carmen Granada-Abarzuza, 2021. "The Influence of Female Directors and Institutional Pressures on Corporate Social Responsibility in Family Firms in Latin America," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-20, January.
    18. Kowalik, Elena, 2023. "Ethical Problems in Family Firms," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 8(2), pages 431-452.
    19. Beatriz Forés & José María Fernández-Yáñez & Alba Puig-Denia & Montserrat Boronat-Navarro, 2022. "Unveiling the Direct Effects of Family Firm Heterogeneity on Environmental Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-20, August.
    20. Sang‐Joon Kim & Jongwan Bae & SoHyeon Kang, 2024. "The cross‐cutting pursuit of family values: When and how do family firms engage in corporate environmental responsibility," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 2749-2769, July.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:17:p:7068-:d:406154. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.