IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v10y2023i1d10.1057_s41599-023-02474-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Toward sustainable port development: an empirical analysis of China’s port industry using an ESG framework

Author

Listed:
  • Xiyan Gu

    (Shanghai Maritime University
    Shanghai Maritime University)

  • Yingjun Zhu

    (Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance)

  • Jingxia Zhang

    (Shiga University)

Abstract

In recent years, the issue of sustainable development has become increasingly important in the port industry. As port policies are altered under decentralization and governance models, the application of corporate responsibility (CR) is expanding. It is now expected that ports take on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) responsibilities. This paper focuses on the application of an ESG framework to the port industry in China, with a specific emphasis on social responsibilities. By focusing on ESG-focal issues in the port industry, we establish a model for evaluating the sustainability of ports that takes into account the three dimensions of environment, society, and governance. An empirical analysis of Shanghai Port in China is presented to illustrate the application of the framework. The paper highlights the main contribution of the ESG framework to support sustainable port development and provides recommendations for promoting the implementation of ESG and sustainable development in the industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiyan Gu & Yingjun Zhu & Jingxia Zhang, 2023. "Toward sustainable port development: an empirical analysis of China’s port industry using an ESG framework," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:10:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-023-02474-4
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-02474-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-023-02474-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-023-02474-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eduardo Duque-Grisales & Javier Aguilera-Caracuel, 2021. "Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Scores and Financial Performance of Multilatinas: Moderating Effects of Geographic International Diversification and Financial Slack," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(2), pages 315-334, January.
    2. Eric Tamatey Lawer & Johannes Herbeck & Michael Flitner, 2019. "Selective Adoption: How Port Authorities in Europe and West Africa Engage with the Globalizing ‘Green Port’ Idea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-22, September.
    3. Saeyeon Roh & Vinh V. Thai & Hyunmi Jang & Gi-Tae Yeo, 2023. "The best practices of port sustainable development: a case study in Korea," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(2), pages 254-280, February.
    4. Chin-Shan Lu & Kuo-Chung Shang & Chi-Chang Lin, 2016. "Examining sustainability performance at ports: port managers’ perspectives on developing sustainable supply chains," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(8), pages 909-927, November.
    5. Wang, Fan & Xiong, Minghua & Niu, Baozhuang & Zhuo, Xiaopo, 2018. "Impact of government subsidy on BOT contract design: Price, demand, and concession period," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 137-159.
    6. Wen, Hui & Ho, Ken C. & Gao, Jijun & Yu, Li, 2022. "The fundamental effects of ESG disclosure quality in boosting the growth of ESG investing," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    7. Lars Hassel & Henrik Nilsson & Siv Nyquist, 2005. "The value relevance of environmental performance," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(1), pages 41-61.
    8. Park, Jin Suk & Seo, Young-Joon, 2016. "The impact of seaports on the regional economies in South Korea: Panel evidence from the augmented Solow model," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 107-119.
    9. Muhammad Azeem Qureshi & Minhas Akbar & Ahsan Akbar & Petra Poulova, 2021. "Do ESG Endeavors Assist Firms in Achieving Superior Financial Performance? A Case of 100 Best Corporate Citizens," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(2), pages 21582440211, June.
    10. Peter W. de Langen & Christiaan Heij, 2014. "Corporatisation and Performance: A Literature Review and an Analysis of the Performance Effects of the Corporatisation of Port of Rotterdam Authority," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(3), pages 396-414, May.
    11. Ting-Ting Li & Kai Wang & Toshiyuki Sueyoshi & Derek D. Wang, 2021. "ESG: Research Progress and Future Prospects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-28, October.
    12. Chiara Mio & Marco Fasan & Carlo Marcon & Silvia Panfilo, 2020. "The predictive ability of legitimacy and agency theory after the implementation of the EU directive on non‐financial information," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 2465-2476, November.
    13. Bruna, Maria Giuseppina & Loprevite, Salvatore & Raucci, Domenico & Ricca, Bruno & Rupo, Daniela, 2022. "Investigating the marginal impact of ESG results on corporate financial performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PA).
    14. Heying Liu & Chan Lyu, 2022. "Can ESG Ratings Stimulate Corporate Green Innovation? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-20, September.
    15. Timo Busch & Gunnar Friede, 2018. "The Robustness of the Corporate Social and Financial Performance Relation: A Second‐Order Meta‐Analysis," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(4), pages 583-608, July.
    16. Arthur Hughes & Michael A. Urban & Dariusz Wójcik, 2021. "Alternative ESG Ratings: How Technological Innovation Is Reshaping Sustainable Investment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-23, March.
    17. Bottasso, Anna & Conti, Maurizio & Ferrari, Claudio & Tei, Alessio, 2014. "Ports and regional development: A spatial analysis on a panel of European regions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 44-55.
    18. Li Feng & Ziming Chen & Haisong Chen, 2022. "Does the Central Environmental Protection Inspectorate Accountability System Improve Environmental Quality?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-16, May.
    19. Zhuo Chen & Myongsop Pak, 2017. "A Delphi analysis on green performance evaluation indices for ports in China," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(5), pages 537-550, July.
    20. Pierre Cariou & Laurent Fedi & Fr�d�ric Dagnet, 2014. "The new governance structure of French seaports: an initial post-evaluation," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(5), pages 430-443, September.
    21. Paredes-Gazquez, Juan Diego & Rodriguez-Fernandez, José Miguel & de la Cuesta-Gonzalez, Marta, 2016. "Measuring corporate social responsibility using composite indices: Mission impossible? The case of the electricity utility industry," Revista de Contabilidad - Spanish Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 142-153.
    22. Vitor R. Caldeirinha & J. Augusto Felício & Sandra F. da Cunha & Luís Machado da Luz, 2018. "The nexus between port governance and performance," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(7), pages 877-892, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Baiqing Sun & Ramadhan Kauzen, 2023. "The Impact of Port Infrastructure and Economic Growth in Tanzania: Adopting a Structural Equation Modeling Approach," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440221, January.
    2. Ferrari, Claudio & Parola, Francesco & Tei, Alessio, 2015. "Governance models and port concessions in Europe: Commonalities, critical issues and policy perspectives," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 60-67.
    3. Massimiliano Cerciello & Francesco Busato & Simone Taddeo, 2023. "The effect of sustainable business practices on profitability. Accounting for strategic disclosure," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 802-819, March.
    4. Alejandro Vega-Muñoz & Guido Salazar-Sepúlveda & Nicolás Contreras-Barraza & Lorena Araya-Silva, 2021. "Port Governance and Cruise Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, April.
    5. Theodore Styliadis & Jason Angelopoulos & Panagiota Leonardou & Petros Pallis, 2022. "Promoting Sustainability through Assessment and Measurement of Port Externalities: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Paths," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-20, July.
    6. Ziaul Haque Munim & Hans-Joachim Schramm, 2018. "The impacts of port infrastructure and logistics performance on economic growth: the mediating role of seaborne trade," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 1-19, December.
    7. Mounir Amdaoud & César Ducruet & Marc‐Antoine Faure, 2022. "The mutual specialization of port and urban functions: The case of France," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 101(2), pages 439-460, April.
    8. Zhao, Deng & Zhen-fu, Li & Yu-tao, Zhou & Xiao, Chen & Shan-shan, Liang, 2020. "Measurement and spatial spillover effects of port comprehensive strength: Empirical evidence from China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 288-298.
    9. W. Matekenya & R. Ncwadi, 2022. "The impact of maritime transport financing on total trade in South Africa," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-17, December.
    10. Mounir Amdaoud & César Ducruet & Marc-Antoine Faure, 2021. "Port-city linkages and multi-level hinterlands: the case of France," EconomiX Working Papers 2021-29, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    11. Elena Cigu & Daniela Tatiana Agheorghiesei & Anca Florentina Gavriluță (Vatamanu) & Elena Toader, 2018. "Transport Infrastructure Development, Public Performance and Long-Run Economic Growth: A Case Study for the Eu-28 Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-22, December.
    12. Victoria Pistikou & Floros Flouros & Georgios A. Deirmentzoglou & Konstantina K. Agoraki, 2023. "Sustainability Reporting: Examining the Community Impact of the S&P500 Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-25, September.
    13. Carlucci, Fabio & Cirà, Andrea & Ioppolo, Giuseppe & Massari, Stefania & Siviero, Lucio, 2018. "Logistics and land use planning: An application of the ACIT indicator in European port regions," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 60-69.
    14. Kudryashov, Alexander, 2023. "ESG Transformation: A Roadmap for Russia’s Sustainable Development /– Tallinn : OPEN EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF PUBLIC SCIENCES OÜ, 2023," OSF Preprints 6j8ux, Center for Open Science.
    15. Roman Fedorenko & Irina Yakhneeva & Nadezhda Zaychikova & Dmitry Lipinsky, 2021. "Evaluating the Socio-Economic Factors Impacting Foreign Trade Development in Port Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-13, July.
    16. Feiyan Han & Daming Wang & Bo Li, 2019. "Spillover Effects of Ports and Logistics Development on Economic Power: Evidence from the Chinese BTH Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-17, August.
    17. Sini Laari & Tomi Solakivi & Anu Bask & Juuso Töyli & Lauri Ojala, 2021. "Unravelling Mickey Mouse: The Effect of Supply Chain Position and Organisational Slack on the Uneven Balance of Sustainability Dimensions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-16, December.
    18. Bruno Ricca & Massimiliano Ferrara & Salvatore Loprevite, 2023. "Searching for an effective accounting-based score of firm performance: a comparative study between different synthesis techniques," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 3575-3602, August.
    19. Ge Ge & Xiang Xiao & Zhenzhu Li & Qinghui Dai, 2022. "Does ESG Performance Promote High-Quality Development of Enterprises in China? The Mediating Role of Innovation Input," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-24, March.
    20. Li, Weijun & Bai, Xiwen & Yang, Dong & Hou, Yao, 2023. "Maritime connectivity, transport infrastructure expansion and economic growth: A global perspective," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:10:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-023-02474-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.