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Environmental responsibility, market valuation, and firm characteristics: Evidence from China

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  • Junnan Hu
  • Shujing Wang
  • Feixue Xie

Abstract

Using a large panel of listed firms in China from 2010 to 2015, this study investigates the valuation effect of corporate environmental responsibility (CER) and firm characteristics that influence such an effect. We implement the ordinary least squares and the fixed effects panel regressions as well as the two‐stage least squares regressions that control for potential endogeneity. We find that CER has a significantly positive effect on firm performance. The positive effect is more pronounced for firms in highly polluting industries, with high asset tangibility and with low state ownership. Furthermore, firms with high ownership concentration and low managerial ownership tend to benefit more from their environmentally responsible activities, suggesting that enhanced environmental engagement may serve as a strategic tool in reducing the negative effects of agency cost and weak corporate governance on firm valuation. Our results are robust to alternative measures of performance (Tobin's Q and return on assets).

Suggested Citation

  • Junnan Hu & Shujing Wang & Feixue Xie, 2018. "Environmental responsibility, market valuation, and firm characteristics: Evidence from China," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(6), pages 1376-1387, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:25:y:2018:i:6:p:1376-1387
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.1646
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    7. George Halkos & Stylianos Nomikos & Kyriaki Tsilika, 2022. "Evidence for Novel Structures Relating CSR Reporting and Economic Welfare: Environmental Sustainability—A Continent-Level Analysis," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 59(2), pages 415-444, February.
    8. Xu, Peng & Xu, Xiaomei & Bai, Guiyu, 2022. "Corporate environmental responsibility, CEO’s tenure and innovation legitimacy: Evidence from Chinese listed companies," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    9. Xiaohong Chen & Jiefu Zhang & Huixiang Zeng, 2020. "Is corporate environmental responsibility synergistic with governmental environmental responsibility? Evidence from China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3669-3686, December.
    10. Thi Ngan Pham & Phung Phi Tran & Minh-Hieu Le & Hoang Nhi Vo & Cong Dat Pham & Hai-Dang Nguyen, 2022. "The Effects of ESG Combined Score on Business Performance of Enterprises in the Transportation Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-17, July.
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    14. Joan Torrent‐Sellens & Pilar Ficapal‐Cusí & Mihaela Enache‐Zegheru, 2023. "Boosting environmental management: The mediating role of Industry 4.0 between environmental assets and economic and social firm performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 753-768, January.
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    17. Patricia Martínez & Ángel Herrero & Raquel Gómez‐López, 2019. "Corporate images and customer behavioral intentions in an environmentally certified context: Promoting environmental sustainability in the hospitality industry," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(6), pages 1382-1391, November.
    18. Rita Lamboglia & Francesco Paolone & Daniela Mancini, 2019. "Determinants of the implementation of environmental risk indicators: Empirical evidence from the Italian manufacturing context," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(2), pages 307-316, March.
    19. Halkos, George & Nomikos, Stylianos, 2021. "Business concerns regarding environmental responsibility," MPRA Paper 105330, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. Ma Zhong & Rong Xu & Xinyi Liao & Shuangli Zhang, 2019. "Do CSR Ratings Converge in China? A Comparison Between RKS and Hexun Scores," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-20, July.
    21. Zijian Liu & Lian Cai & Yabin Zhang, 2022. "Gender Diversity and Environmental Performance: New Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, October.
    22. Wenbin Long & Le Luo & Hongfeng Sun & Qiqi Zhong, 2023. "Does going abroad lead to going green? Firm outward foreign direct investment and domestic environmental performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 484-498, January.
    23. 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).
    24. Dolores Gallardo-Vázquez & Luis Enrique Valdez-Juárez & Ángela María Castuera-Díaz, 2019. "Corporate Social Responsibility as an Antecedent of Innovation, Reputation, Performance, and Competitive Success: A Multiple Mediation Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-28, October.

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