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External governance pressure and corporate environmental responsibility: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China |
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| Authors: | Qiang Liu Lianchao Yu Guowan Yan Yu Guo |
| Institution: | 1. School of Economics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Institute for Fiscal Big-Data & Policy of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China;2. School of Management, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China;3. School of Economics and Business Administration, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China |
| Abstract: | In recent years, the Audit Pilot of Natural Resources Assets (APNRA) pilot program has been implemented by the Chinese government to strengthen the protection of natural resources and the ecological environment. Based on the APNRA pilot program, we use the multi-period differences–in–differences model to investigate the response of corporate environmental responsibility to external governance pressure. We find that firms significantly improve their environmental investment and performance after the implementation of the APNRA pilot program. Sewage charges (including green fees) and ecological protection incentives constitute the two main channels that explain the positive relationship. We further find that the impact of the program on corporate environmental investment and performance is more pronounced for firms in regions with poor environmental quality, and for firms in heavy-polluting industries. This paper introduces the role of government governance in generating positive externality for firms and provides a valuable understanding of environmental governance in an emerging market. |
| Keywords: | audit pilot of natural resources assets corporate environmental performance environmental responsibility governance pressure |