Low-Carbon City Construction and Corporate Carbon Reduction Performance: Evidence From a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China

Shaojian Chen (), Hui Mao () and Junqin Sun ()
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Shaojian Chen: Shaanxi Normal University
Hui Mao: Shaanxi Normal University
Junqin Sun: Xi’an Jiaotong University

Journal of Business Ethics, 2022, vol. 180, issue 1, No 9, 125-143

Abstract: Abstract Enterprises are the market players for carbon reductions and carbon trading, and they are also the significant driving force in a low-carbon economy and society. Using the data of A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2016, this study uses a difference-in-differences (DID) model to examine the effects of the low-carbon city construction on corporate carbon reduction performance. Consistent with our hypotheses, we find that the low-carbon city construction promotes corporate carbon reduction performance. Further analysis indicates that the policy effect is stronger for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) than non-state-owned enterprises (non-SOEs). Moreover, environmental quality can affect the promotion of local government officials, which is more prominent in pilot low-carbon cities, and political promotion incentives significantly improve corporate carbon reduction performance. Furthermore, the highest emission reduction effects come in the fourth year after adopting a carbon reduction policy and are concentrated among the firms in the eastern region. Overall, our findings offer a new point view for a deeper understanding of the improvement of corporate carbon reduction performance, and provide microscopic evidence for the objective evaluation of the environmental effects of China's low-carbon city pilot policies.

Keywords: Low-carbon city; Corporate carbon reduction; Difference-in-difference (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q53 Q58 R38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (33)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10551-021-04886-1

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