IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i7p2828-d1618254.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of Exogenous Shocks on the Sustainability of Supply Chain Relationships: Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Shengmei Chen

    (School of Economics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China)

  • Gui Ren

    (School of Economics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China)

Abstract

In recent years, supply chain risks and stability have become a focal point of public attention. However, there is no consensus on how exogenous shocks affect the sustainability of supply chain relationships, nor a clear mechanism of influence. This study uses data from all A-share listed companies in China from Q2 2018 to Q4 2021, constructing a “supplier–quarter–customer” relationship dataset, with the COVID-19 pandemic serving as an exogenous shock. The results show that after experiencing exogenous shocks, the sustainability of supply chain relationships actually strengthens. This suggests that companies may take measures to enhance supply chain stability and maintain existing relationships to ensure sustainability. Channel analysis reveal that trade credit serves as a channel for the impact of exogenous shocks on the sustainability of supply chain relationships, with companies adjusting trade credit supply to downstream customers to maintain and strengthen stability. Additionally, the impact of exogenous shocks on the sustainability of supply chain relationships varies with market concentration, product input heterogeneity, and firms’ ownership type. Therefore, companies should enhance supply chain relationship management, utilize trade credit as a risk buffer, and optimize the supply chain structure to reduce risk transmission and maintain sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Shengmei Chen & Gui Ren, 2025. "The Impact of Exogenous Shocks on the Sustainability of Supply Chain Relationships: Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-25, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:2828-:d:1618254
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/2828/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/2828/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dai, Rui & Liang, Hao & Ng, Lilian, 2021. "Socially responsible corporate customers," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(2), pages 598-626.
    2. Lin, Tsung-Te & Chou, Jian-Hsin, 2015. "Trade credit and bank loan: Evidence from Chinese firms," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 17-29.
    3. Niklas Amberg & Tor Jacobson & Erik von Schedvin & Robert Townsend, 2021. "Curbing Shocks to Corporate Liquidity: The Role of Trade Credit," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 129(1), pages 182-242.
    4. Matthew Elliott & Benjamin Golub & Matthew V. Leduc, 2022. "Supply Network Formation and Fragility," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(8), pages 2701-2747, August.
    5. Noth, Felix & Rehbein, Oliver, 2019. "Badly hurt? Natural disasters and direct firm effects," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 254-258.
    6. Luca Braghieri & Ro'ee Levy & Alexey Makarin, 2022. "Social Media and Mental Health," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(11), pages 3660-3693, November.
    7. David J. Teece & Gary Pisano & Amy Shuen, 1997. "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 509-533, August.
    8. Daron Acemoglu & Vasco M. Carvalho & Asuman Ozdaglar & Alireza Tahbaz‐Salehi, 2012. "The Network Origins of Aggregate Fluctuations," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 80(5), pages 1977-2016, September.
    9. John Hagedoorn & Boris Lokshin & Ann‐Kristin Zobel, 2018. "Partner Type Diversity in Alliance Portfolios: Multiple Dimensions, Boundary Conditions and Firm Innovation Performance," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(5), pages 809-836, July.
    10. Anna M. Costello, 2020. "Credit Market Disruptions and Liquidity Spillover Effects in the Supply Chain," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 128(9), pages 3434-3468.
    11. Chen, Shenglan & Ma, Hui & Wu, Qiang, 2019. "Bank credit and trade credit: Evidence from natural experiments," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    12. Luo, Haowen, 2022. "COVID-19 and trade credit speed of adjustment," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PA).
    13. Wu, Wenfeng & Firth, Michael & Rui, Oliver M., 2014. "Trust and the provision of trade credit," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 146-159.
    14. 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.
    15. Cen, Ling & Maydew, Edward L. & Zhang, Liandong & Zuo, Luo, 2017. "Customer–supplier relationships and corporate tax avoidance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(2), pages 377-394.
    16. Jin, Xin & Zhang, Min & Sun, Guanghua & Cui, Lixin, 2022. "The impact of COVID-19 on firm innovation: Evidence from Chinese listed companies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    17. Jean-Noël Barrot & Julien Sauvagnat, 2016. "Input Specificity and the Propagation of Idiosyncratic Shocks in Production Networks," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 131(3), pages 1543-1592.
    18. Gofman, Michael & Wu, Youchang, 2022. "Trade credit and profitability in production networks," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(1), pages 593-618.
    19. Croci, Ettore & Degl'Innocenti, Marta & Zhou, Si, 2021. "Large customer-supplier links and syndicate loan structure," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    20. Li, Pei & Lu, Yi & Wang, Jin, 2016. "Does flattening government improve economic performance? Evidence from China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 18-37.
    21. Campello, Murillo & Gao, Janet, 2017. "Customer concentration and loan contract terms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(1), pages 108-136.
    22. Nora M C Pankratz & Christoph M Schiller, 2024. "Climate Change and Adaptation in Global Supply-Chain Networks," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 37(6), pages 1729-1777.
    23. 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).
    24. Yossi Sheffi, 2005. "The Resilient Enterprise: Overcoming Vulnerability for Competitive Advantage," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262693496, December.
    25. Berg, Gunhild & Schrader, Jan, 2012. "Access to credit, natural disasters, and relationship lending," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 21(4), pages 549-568.
    26. Barbara Summers & Nicholas Wilson, 2003. "Trade credit and customer relationships," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(6-7), pages 439-455.
    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. Ersahin, Nuri & Giannetti, Mariassunta & Huang, Ruidi, 2024. "Trade credit and the stability of supply chains," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    2. Senay Agca & Volodymyr Babich & John R. Birge & Jing Wu, 2022. "Credit Shock Propagation Along Supply Chains: Evidence from the CDS Market," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(9), pages 6506-6538, September.
    3. James, Hui Liang & Ngo, Thanh & Wang, Hongxia, 2023. "The impact of more able managers on corporate trade credit," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    4. Ersahin, Nuri & Giannetti, Mariassunta & Huang, Ruidi, 2024. "Supply chain risk: Changes in supplier composition and vertical integration," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    5. Spatareanu, Mariana & Manole, Vlad & Kabiri, Ali & Roland, Isabelle, 2023. "Bank default risk propagation along supply chains: Evidence from the U.K," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 813-831.
    6. Spatareanu, Mariana & Manole, Vlad & Kabiri, Ali & Roland, Isabelle, 2023. "Bank default risk propagation along supply chains: evidence from the U.K," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 117351, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Esposito, Federico & Hassan, Fadi, 2023. "Import Competition, Trade Credit, and Financial Frictions in General Equilibrium," CEPR Discussion Papers 17926, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Haoyu Gao & Peixuan Zhao & Huiyu Wen, 2023. "How does credit information sharing affect trade credit? Evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(5), pages 4909-4938, December.
    9. Lai, Shaojie & Chen, Lihan & Wang, Qing Sophie & Anderson, Hamish, 2022. "Natural disasters, trade credit, and firm performance," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    10. Esposito, Federico & Hassan, Fadi, 2023. "Import competition, trade credit and financial frictions in general equilibrium," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121378, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. Peydró, José-Luis & Jiménez, Gabriel & Kenan, Huremovic & Moral-Benito, Enrique & Vega-Redondo, Fernando, 2020. "Production and financial networks in interplay: Crisis evidence from supplier-customer and credit registers," CEPR Discussion Papers 15277, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    12. Kabiri, Ali & Malone, Vlad & Roland, Isabelle Angeline Madeleine & Spatareanu, Mariana, 2020. "Bank default risk propagation along supply chains: evidence from the UK," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121832, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    13. Alfaro, Laura & García-Santana, Manuel & Moral-Benito, Enrique, 2021. "On the direct and indirect real effects of credit supply shocks," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(3), pages 895-921.
    14. Antonio De Vito & Martin Jacob & Dirk Schindler & Guosong Xu, 2025. "How do corporate tax hikes affect investment allocation within multinationals?," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 29(2), pages 531-565.
    15. Mariana Spatareanu & Vlad Manole & Ali Kabiri & Isabelle Roland, 2021. "Bank Default Risk Propagation along Supply Chains: Evidence from the U.K," Working Papers Rutgers University, Newark 2021-001, Department of Economics, Rutgers University, Newark.
    16. Wang, Wenya & Xu, Qiyu & Yang, Ei, 2024. "Bargaining power and trade credit: The heterogeneous effect of credit contractions," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    17. Yu, Xiaojun & Li, Qiang & Zhang, Lin, 2024. "Major government customer and corporate environmental responsibility: Evidence from China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    18. Darendeli, Alper & Fiechter, Peter & Hitz, Jörg-Markus & Lehmann, Nico, 2022. "The role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) information in supply-chain contracting: Evidence from the expansion of CSR rating coverage," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(2).
    19. Gofman, Michael & Wu, Youchang, 2022. "Trade credit and profitability in production networks," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(1), pages 593-618.
    20. He, Weimin & Wang, Bin, 2024. "Environmental jurisdiction and energy efficiency: Evidence from China's establishment of environmental courts," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).

    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:17:y:2025:i:7:p:2828-:d:1618254. 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.