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Managing CEO duality and economic uncertainty: strategies for aligning corporate sustainability and innovation in China’s energy market

Author

Listed:
  • Sultan Sikandar Mirza

    (Hangzhou City University)

  • Chengming Huang

    (University of Waikato)

  • Adnan Khan

    (Hangzhou City University)

Abstract

Resource scarcity has prompted energy firms to adopt sustainable practices to enhance their innovation and competitiveness. This research examines the interaction between corporate sustainability and innovation in China’s energy sector. Using panel data from Chinese listed companies from 2011 to 2020, this study also explores how CEO duality and economic policy uncertainty affect China’s energy market. The results reveal a significant positive association between corporate sustainable development practices and innovation performance in China’s energy sector. The study also finds that the relationship between innovation performance and corporate sustainability is weakened by CEO dualism and economic uncertainty. The results are robust across alternative indicator of corporate sustainability practices. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis based on ownership (SOE vs. non-SOE) and industry type (traditional energy industry vs new energy industry) confirms the main findings except by new energy industry. This study’s findings have implications for policymakers on how to effectively foster the growth of the Chinese energy sector and provide recommendations for industry boards of directors on how to organize their business.

Suggested Citation

  • Sultan Sikandar Mirza & Chengming Huang & Adnan Khan, 2024. "Managing CEO duality and economic uncertainty: strategies for aligning corporate sustainability and innovation in China’s energy market," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 12815-12841, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:26:y:2024:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04013-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-04013-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate sustainable practices; Innovation performance; CEO duality; Policy uncertainty; Chinese energy industry;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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