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Democracy, national culture and greenhouse gas emissions: An international study

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  • Mohammad Badrul Muttakin
  • Tarek Rana
  • Dessalegn Getie Mihret

Abstract

This study examines whether a country's level of democracy is associated with greenhouse gas emission intensity of corporations and if national culture influences this association. Using cross‐country evidence, we find that firms operating in countries with strong democratic institutions are negatively associated with carbon emission intensity controlling for other country‐level variables. Democracy also moderates the positive effect of individualistic cultures on greenhouse gas emission intensity, whereas countries with high uncertainty avoidance and indulgence are associated with high emissions despite high democratic scores. That is, while the effects of democracy and culture on greenhouse gas emission intensity supplement each other, culture shapes a firm's strategy on environmental matters to a greater extent than democracy. The results are robust to alternative variable measurement.

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  • Mohammad Badrul Muttakin & Tarek Rana & Dessalegn Getie Mihret, 2022. "Democracy, national culture and greenhouse gas emissions: An international study," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 2978-2991, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:31:y:2022:i:7:p:2978-2991
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.3059
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    Cited by:

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    2. Akrum Helfaya & Rebecca Morris & Ahmed Aboud, 2023. "Investigating the Factors That Determine the ESG Disclosure Practices in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Maha Alandejani & Habiba Al-Shaer, 2023. "Macro Uncertainty Impacts on ESG Performance and Carbon Emission Reduction Targets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Gaganis, Chrysovalantis & Galariotis, Emilios & Pasiouras, Fotios & Tasiou, Menelaos, 2023. "Managerial ability and corporate greenhouse gas emissions," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 438-453.
    5. Eric Evans Osei Opoku & Alex O. Acheampong & Janet Dzator & Nana Kwabena Kufuor, 2022. "Does environmental sustainability attract foreign investment? Evidence from developing countries," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3542-3573, November.

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