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Spatial Dynamics between Firm Sales and Environmental Responsibility: The Mediating Role of Corporate Innovation

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  • Jiafeng Gu

    (Institute of Social Survey Study, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

Abstract

Corporate environmental responsibility (CER) is increasingly gaining interest among researchers and practitioners. Despite this extensive interest, systematic research regarding the effect of sales on environmental performance remains scarce. In this study, an empirical analysis on a sample of 909 Chinese listed companies from 2010 to 2016 showed that sales positively impact environmental performance. This study also showed that corporate innovation mediates the relationship between sales and environmental performance. Furthermore, this study showed that environmental performance has a positive spatial spillover effect. Enterprises appear to promote their own environmental performance as a response to a rise in the environmental performance of their neighbors. The external control theory of organization has important reference significance and explanatory power for CER behavior in emerging economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiafeng Gu, 2021. "Spatial Dynamics between Firm Sales and Environmental Responsibility: The Mediating Role of Corporate Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1684-:d:493369
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    Cited by:

    1. Tao Luo & Ruhe Xie, 2021. "Supply Chain Power and Corporate Environmental Responsibility: Mediation Effects Based on Business Performance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Jiafeng Gu, 2021. "Effects of Patent Policy on Outputs and Commercialization of Academic Patents in China: A Spatial Difference-in-Differences Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Radosław Wolniak & Adam Wyszomirski & Marcin Olkiewicz & Anna Olkiewicz, 2021. "Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility Activities in Heating Industry—Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, March.
    4. Jiafeng Gu, 2023. "Firm Performance and Corporate Social Responsibility: Spatial Context and Effect Mechanism," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, January.
    5. Jiafeng Gu, 2021. "Determinants of biopharmaceutical R&D expenditures in China: the impact of spatiotemporal context," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(8), pages 6659-6680, August.

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