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How Does Environmental Information Disclosure Affect Pollution Emissions: Firm-Level Evidence from China

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  • Xiangyang Yang

    (School of International Economics and Trade, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China
    Institute of Food and Strategic Reserves, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Zheng Zhang

    (School of International Economics and Trade, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Siqi Rao

    (School of Business, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China)

  • Bei Liu

    (School of Management, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210003, China)

  • Yueyue Li

    (School of International Economics and Trade, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China)

Abstract

This paper uses the environmental information announcement system as a quasi-natural experiment, cleaning China’s Industrial Enterprise Pollution Database, a unique and comprehensive firm-level database, and merges it with China’s Industrial Enterprise Database. Then, we use the difference-in-differences model to test the effect of environmental information announcements on firm pollution emissions and the transmission mechanism. The empirical results found that environmental information announcement has a significant environmental performance improvement effect. That is, environmental information announcements can significantly reduce pollution emissions. Moreover, the effects of environmental information announcement differ significantly under different regions, city levels, and environmental regulatory intensities. Specifically, in the eastern region, first-class cities, and regions with higher environmental regulations, the emission reduction effects of enterprises are more obvious. Further transmission mechanism test results show that environmental information disclosure has a dual emission reduction mechanism of internal driving and external pressure. Front-end of technological innovation and end-of-end environmental governance are important manifestations in internal driving. Under external pressure, companies will reduce production so as to achieve the goal of reducing pollution emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiangyang Yang & Zheng Zhang & Siqi Rao & Bei Liu & Yueyue Li, 2022. "How Does Environmental Information Disclosure Affect Pollution Emissions: Firm-Level Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12763-:d:934400
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Xingshuai Wang & Ehsan Elahi & Zainab Khalid & Mohammad Ilyas Abro, 2023. "Environmental Governance Goals of Local Governments and Technological Innovation of Enterprises under Green Performance Assessment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-19, January.

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