IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i18p13410-d1234942.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Role of Digital Transformation on Carbon Performance: Evidence from Firm-Level Analysis in China

Author

Listed:
  • Borui Guo

    (School of Economics and Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Xiaoxia Huang

    (School of Economics and Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China)

Abstract

The continuous proliferation of the global digital wave has increased the contribution of firms’ digital transformation as a vital force propelling economic growth and sustainable development, highlighting the importance of digital transformation and the environment. However, only limited studies focused on how digital transformation influences carbon performance. To fill in this gap, this study investigates the impact of digital transformation on corporate carbon performance using a sample of 2286 Chinese A-share listed firms from 2008 to 2020 and employs the ordinary least squares (OLS) model as the principal research methodology. According to the results, the adoption of digital transformation strategies by firms exhibits a notable capacity to enhance carbon performance, which holds after a series of robustness tests. Green technology innovation and total factor productivity exhibit a partially mediating influence on the relationship between digital transformation and carbon performance. Further analyses reveal that enhanced green management practices and government subsidies have the potential to further amplify this positive effect. However, the impact is diminished by financing constraints and political connections. The findings of this research hold significance for firms striving for sustainable development within the era.

Suggested Citation

  • Borui Guo & Xiaoxia Huang, 2023. "Role of Digital Transformation on Carbon Performance: Evidence from Firm-Level Analysis in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:18:p:13410-:d:1234942
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/13410/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/13410/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhu, Bangzhu & Xu, Chenxin & Wang, Ping & Zhang, Lin, 2022. "How does internal carbon pricing affect corporate environmental performance?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 65-77.
    2. Nasiri, Mina & Ukko, Juhani & Saunila, Minna & Rantala, Tero, 2020. "Managing the digital supply chain: The role of smart technologies," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 96.
    3. Lai, Kee-hung & Feng, Yunting & Zhu, Qinghua, 2023. "Digital transformation for green supply chain innovation in manufacturing operations," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    4. Zeng, Huixiang & Ran, Hangxin & Zhou, Qiong & Jin, Youliang & Cheng, Xu, 2022. "The financial effect of firm digitalization: Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    5. Ramzi Benkraiem & Fatima Shuwaikh & Faten Lakhal & Assil Guizani, 2022. "Carbon performance and firm value of the World's most sustainable companies," Post-Print hal-03763998, HAL.
    6. 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).
    7. Ye, Fei & Ouyang, You & Li, Yina, 2023. "Digital investment and environmental performance: The mediating roles of production efficiency and green innovation," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    8. Cordery, Carolyn J. & Goncharenko, Galina & Polzer, Tobias & McConville, Danielle & Belal, Ataur, 2023. "NGOs’ performance, governance, and accountability in the era of digital transformation," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(5).
    9. Chen, Zhongfei & Zhang, Xiao & Chen, Fanglin, 2021. "Do carbon emission trading schemes stimulate green innovation in enterprises? Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    10. Stefan Lewandowski, 2017. "Corporate Carbon and Financial Performance: The Role of Emission Reductions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(8), pages 1196-1211, December.
    11. Zhang, Chuan & Liu, Lixia, 2023. "Corporate inventory and cash holdings in digital economy strategy: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    12. Wu, Aihua, 2017. "The signal effect of Government R&D Subsidies in China: Does ownership matter?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 339-345.
    13. Guo, Xiaochuan & Li, Mengmeng & Wang, Yanlin & Mardani, Abbas, 2023. "Does digital transformation improve the firm’s performance? From the perspective of digitalization paradox and managerial myopia," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    14. Pan, Wenrong & Xie, Tao & Wang, Zhuwang & Ma, Lisha, 2022. "Digital economy: An innovation driver for total factor productivity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 303-311.
    15. Yu, Jian & Shi, Xunpeng & Guo, Dongmei & Yang, Longjian, 2021. "Economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and firm carbon emissions: Evidence using a China provincial EPU index," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    16. Larelle Chapple & Peter M. Clarkson & Daniel L. Gold, 2013. "The Cost of Carbon: Capital Market Effects of the Proposed Emission Trading Scheme ( ETS )," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 49(1), pages 1-33, March.
    17. Wang, Yizhong & Yao, Chengxue & Kang, Di, 2019. "Political connections and firm performance: Evidence from government officials' site visits," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    18. James Levinsohn & Amil Petrin, 2003. "Estimating Production Functions Using Inputs to Control for Unobservables," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 70(2), pages 317-341.
    19. Dalenogare, Lucas Santos & Le Dain, Marie-Anne & Ayala, Néstor F. & Pezzotta, Giuditta & Frank, Alejandro G., 2023. "Building digital servitization ecosystems: An analysis of inter-firm collaboration types and social exchange mechanisms among actors," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    20. Zhongju Liao & Chen Weng & Chen Shen, 2020. "Can public surveillance promote corporate environmental innovation? The mediating role of environmental law enforcement," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(6), pages 1519-1527, November.
    21. Singh, Sanjay Kumar & Chen, Jin & Del Giudice, Manlio & El-Kassar, Abdul-Nasser, 2019. "Environmental ethics, environmental performance, and competitive advantage: Role of environmental training," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 203-211.
    22. Gerard George & Ryan K. Merrill & Simon J. D. Schillebeeckx, 2021. "Digital Sustainability and Entrepreneurship: How Digital Innovations Are Helping Tackle Climate Change and Sustainable Development," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(5), pages 999-1027, September.
    23. Fang, Mingyue & Nie, Huihua & Shen, Xinyi, 2023. "Can enterprise digitization improve ESG performance?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    24. Xiaofei Shi & Xuefen Cao & Yangshi Hou & Wenxin Xu, 2023. "Mixed Ownership Reform and Environmental Sustainable Development—Based on the Perspective of Carbon Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-21, June.
    25. Benkraiem, Ramzi & Shuwaikh, Fatima & Lakhal, Faten & Guizani, Assil, 2022. "Carbon performance and firm value of the World's most sustainable companies," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    26. Niu, Yuhao & Wang, Sai & Wen, Wen & Li, Sifei, 2023. "Does digital transformation speed up dynamic capital structure adjustment? Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    27. Guo, Chenhao & Ke, Yun & Zhang, Jinkang, 2023. "Digital transformation along the supply chain," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    28. Ching-Hsun Chang, 2011. "The Influence of Corporate Environmental Ethics on Competitive Advantage: The Mediation Role of Green Innovation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 104(3), pages 361-370, December.
    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. Lu, Shan & Peng, Sihan & Shi, Jiaxin & Zhang, Ci & Feng, Yanchao, 2024. "How does digital transformation affect the total factor productivity of China's A-share listed enterprises in the mineral resource-based sector?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    2. Qingmin Yin & Nan Su & Chenhui Ding, 2024. "The Nonlinear Effects of Digital Finance on Corporate ESG Performance: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-27, September.

    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. Wu, Qingyang & Wang, Yanying, 2022. "How does carbon emission price stimulate enterprises' total factor productivity? Insights from China's emission trading scheme pilots," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    2. Benkraiem, Ramzi & Dubocage, Emmanuelle & Lelong, Yann & Shuwaikh, Fatima, 2023. "The effects of environmental performance and green innovation on corporate venture capital," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    3. Lu, Shan & Peng, Sihan & Shi, Jiaxin & Zhang, Ci & Feng, Yanchao, 2024. "How does digital transformation affect the total factor productivity of China's A-share listed enterprises in the mineral resource-based sector?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    4. Xiu Jie Deng & Man Qing Yuan & Cai Yi Luo, 2024. "Corporate digital transformation, market competition, and the environmental performance—Microevidence from Chinese manufacturing," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3279-3298, May.
    5. Chotia, Varun & Cheng, Yue & Agarwal, Reeti & Vishnoi, Sushant Kumar, 2024. "AI-enabled Green Business Strategy: Path to carbon neutrality via environmental performance and green process innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    6. Saleh F. A. Khatib & Iyad H. M. Ismail & Naeem Salameh & Alhamzah F. Abbas & Ayman Hassan Bazhair & Hamid Ghazi H Sulimany, 2023. "Carbon Emission and Firm Performance: The Moderating Role of Management Environmental Training," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-19, July.
    7. Wang, Bo & Gong, Siyu & Yang, Yang, 2024. "Unveiling the relation between digital technology and low-carbon innovation: Carbon emission trading policy as an antecedent," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    8. Tian, Lichuan & Sun, Kai & Yang, Jie & Zhao, Yang, 2024. "Does digital economy affect corporate ESG performance? New insights from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PB), pages 964-980.
    9. Ying Zhang & Yingli Huang, 2023. "Killing Two Birds with One Stone or Missing One of Them? The Synergistic Governance Effect of China’s Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme on Pollution Control and Carbon Emission Reduction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-25, June.
    10. Zhaohui Yan & Mingli Wang & Yumeng Sun & Zihui Nan, 2023. "The Impact of Research and Development Investment on Total Factor Productivity of Animal Husbandry Enterprises: Evidence from Listed Companies in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-21, September.
    11. Tan, Jianhua & Hua, Min & Chan, Kam C., 2024. "Do anticipated government environmental audits improve firm productivity? Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    12. Gong, Zheng & Gong, Liuji, 2024. "The financial geographic structure, Confucian culture, and corporate asset allocation efficiency," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    13. Xi, Mengjie & Liu, Yang & Fang, Wei & Feng, Taiwen, 2024. "Intelligent manufacturing for strengthening operational resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: A dynamic capability theory perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    14. Licheng Yang & Shijie Song & Chunlin Liu, 2024. "Green signals: The impact of environmental protection support policies on firms' green innovation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3258-3278, May.
    15. Erli Dan & Jianfei Shen & Xinyuan Zheng & Peng Liu & Ludan Zhang & Feiyu Chen, 2023. "Asset Structure, Asset Utilization Efficiency, and Carbon Emission Performance: Evidence from Panel Data of China’s Low-Carbon Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-20, April.
    16. Guo, Dongmei & Li, Qin & Liu, Peng & Shi, Xunpeng & Yu, Jian, 2023. "Power shortage and firm performance: Evidence from a Chinese city power shortage index," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    17. Huang, Hongyun & Mbanyele, William & Wang, Fengrong & Song, Malin & Wang, Yuzhang, 2022. "Climbing the quality ladder of green innovation: Does green finance matter?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    18. Yu, Jian & Liu, Peng & Fu, Dahai & Shi, Xunpeng, 2023. "How do power shortages affect CO2 emission intensity? Firm-level evidence from China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    19. Pingkuo Liu & Jiahao Wu, 2023. "Game Analysis on Energy Enterprises’ Digital Transformation—Strategic Simulation for Guiding Role, Leading Role and Following Role," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-33, June.
    20. Syed Hassan Jamil & Majid Jamal Khan, 2024. "Do corporate environmental protection efforts reduce firm‐level operating risk? Evidence from a developing country," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4480-4492, 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:15:y:2023:i:18:p:13410-:d:1234942. 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.