IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/corfin/v91y2025ics0929119925000094.html

Does commercial reform embracing digital technologies mitigate stock price crash risk?

Author

Listed:
  • He, Guanming
  • Li, Zhichao
  • Yu, Ling
  • Zhou, Zhanqiang

Abstract

Over the recent decade or so, the Chinese government implemented a commercial reform that features governmental application of digital technologies to acquire and process firm information. The core objective of commercial reform is to improve information transparency and monitoring on corporate commercial activities. To explore the economic effectiveness of the reform, we examine how it impacts firms' stock price crash risk. We find robust evidence that the commercial reform that digitalizes government regulatory activities mitigates stock price crash risk and achieves so via enhancing information environment and monitoring for firms. This finding is more prominent for firms with higher levels of digitalization and innovation and those with weaker internal governance. Overall, our findings highlight a potential benefit of applying digital technologies to regulatory reform, encouraging governments to adopt digital tools to improve information environments and monitoring for firms, and thereby promoting a more stable and efficient capital market.

Suggested Citation

  • He, Guanming & Li, Zhichao & Yu, Ling & Zhou, Zhanqiang, 2025. "Does commercial reform embracing digital technologies mitigate stock price crash risk?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:91:y:2025:i:c:s0929119925000094
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2025.102741
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929119925000094
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2025.102741?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chen, Joseph & Hong, Harrison & Stein, Jeremy C., 2001. "Forecasting crashes: trading volume, past returns, and conditional skewness in stock prices," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(3), pages 345-381, September.
    2. Yadong Luo, 2022. "A general framework of digitization risks in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(2), pages 344-361, March.
    3. Joseph D. Piotroski & T.J. Wong, 2012. "Institutions and Information Environment of Chinese Listed Firms," NBER Chapters, in: Capitalizing China, pages 201-242, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Biddle, Gary C. & Hilary, Gilles & Verdi, Rodrigo S., 2009. "How does financial reporting quality relate to investment efficiency?," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(2-3), pages 112-131, December.
    5. Lin William Cong & Zhiguo He, 2019. "Blockchain Disruption and Smart Contracts," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 32(5), pages 1754-1797.
    6. Gerry Gallery & Natalie Gallery & Matthew Supranowicz, 2008. "Cash‐based related party transactions in new economy firms," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 21(2), pages 147-166, September.
    7. Simon Alder & Lin Shao & Fabrizio Zilibotti, 2016. "Economic reforms and industrial policy in a panel of Chinese cities," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 305-349, December.
    8. Hutton, Amy P. & Marcus, Alan J. & Tehranian, Hassan, 2009. "Opaque financial reports, R2, and crash risk," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(1), pages 67-86, October.
    9. Jin, Hong-min & Su, Zhong-qin & Wang, Lu & Xiao, Zuoping, 2022. "Do academic independent directors matter? Evidence from stock price crash risk," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1129-1148.
    10. Mark Kohlbeck & Brian W. Mayhew, 2017. "Are Related Party Transactions Red Flags?," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(2), pages 900-928, June.
    11. Kim, Yongtae & Li, Haidan & Li, Siqi, 2014. "Corporate social responsibility and stock price crash risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 1-13.
    12. Joseph G. Altonji & Todd E. Elder & Christopher R. Taber, 2005. "Selection on Observed and Unobserved Variables: Assessing the Effectiveness of Catholic Schools," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 113(1), pages 151-184, February.
    13. Jin, Li & Myers, Stewart C., 2006. "R2 around the world: New theory and new tests," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(2), pages 257-292, February.
    14. Pierangelo Rosati & Fabian Gogolin & Theo Lynn, 2022. "Cyber-Security Incidents and Audit Quality," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(3), pages 701-728, May.
    15. Joseph P. H. Fan & T. J. Wong, 2005. "Do External Auditors Perform a Corporate Governance Role in Emerging Markets? Evidence from East Asia," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(1), pages 35-72, March.
    16. Shu-Miao Lai & Chih-Liang Liu & Taychang Wang, 2014. "Increased disclosure and investment efficiency," Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(3), pages 308-327, September.
    17. Jiang, Guohua & Lee, Charles M.C. & Yue, Heng, 2010. "Tunneling through intercorporate loans: The China experience," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(1), pages 1-20, October.
    18. Tamara Dinev & Paul Hart, 2006. "An Extended Privacy Calculus Model for E-Commerce Transactions," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 17(1), pages 61-80, March.
    19. Brockman, Paul & Firth, Michael & He, Xianjie & Mao, Xinyang & Rui, Oliver, 2019. "Relationship-Based Resource Allocations: Evidence from the Use of “Guanxi” during SEOs," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 54(3), pages 1193-1230, June.
    20. Ciampi, Francesco & Demi, Stefano & Magrini, Alessandro & Marzi, Giacomo & Papa, Armando, 2021. "Exploring the impact of big data analytics capabilities on business model innovation: The mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 1-13.
    21. Gerry Gallery & Natalie Gallery & Matthew Supranowicz, 2008. "Cash‐based related party transactions in new economy firms," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 21(2), pages 147-166, September.
    22. Dimson, Elroy, 1979. "Risk measurement when shares are subject to infrequent trading," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 197-226, June.
    23. Le, Son Anh & Walters, Bruce & Kroll, Mark, 2006. "The moderating effects of external monitors on the relationship between R&D spending and firm performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 59(2), pages 278-287, February.
    24. repec:eme:jaar00:jaar-09-2017-0096 is not listed on IDEAS
    25. Blichfeldt, Henrik & Faullant, Rita, 2021. "Performance effects of digital technology adoption and product & service innovation – A process-industry perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    26. Roberts, Michael R. & Whited, Toni M., 2013. "Endogeneity in Empirical Corporate Finance1," Handbook of the Economics of Finance, in: G.M. Constantinides & M. Harris & R. M. Stulz (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Finance, volume 2, chapter 0, pages 493-572, Elsevier.
    27. Wanyi Chen & Liguang Zhang & Pinyan Jiang & Fanli Meng & Qianyi Sun, 2022. "Can digital transformation improve the information environment of the capital market? Evidence from the analysts' prediction behaviour," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(2), pages 2543-2578, June.
    28. Daron Acemoglu, 2002. "Directed Technical Change," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 69(4), pages 781-809.
    29. Eliana La Ferrara & Alberto Chong & Suzanne Duryea, 2012. "Soap Operas and Fertility: Evidence from Brazil," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 4(4), pages 1-31, October.
    30. Guanming He & Helen Mengbing Ren, 2023. "Are financially constrained firms susceptible to a stock price crash?," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(6), pages 612-637, April.
    31. Jiménez-Jiménez, Daniel & Sanz-Valle, Raquel, 2011. "Innovation, organizational learning, and performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(4), pages 408-417, April.
    32. Ferreira, João J.M. & Fernandes, Cristina I. & Ferreira, Fernando A.F., 2019. "To be or not to be digital, that is the question: Firm innovation and performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 583-590.
    33. Matarazzo, Michela & Penco, Lara & Profumo, Giorgia & Quaglia, Roberto, 2021. "Digital transformation and customer value creation in Made in Italy SMEs: A dynamic capabilities perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 642-656.
    34. Lei Xu & Qian Liu & Bin Li & Chen Ma, 2022. "Fintech business and firm access to bank loans," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(4), pages 4381-4421, December.
    35. David Aboody & Baruch Lev, 2000. "Information Asymmetry, R&D, and Insider Gains," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 55(6), pages 2747-2766, December.
    36. Joseph D. Piotroski & T. J. Wong & Tianyu Zhang, 2015. "Political Incentives to Suppress Negative Information: Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 53(2), pages 405-459, May.
    37. Guanming He & Lu Bai & Helen Mengbing Ren, 2019. "Analyst coverage and future stock price crash risk," Journal of Applied Accounting Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 20(1), pages 63-77, April.
    38. Hsien-Li Lee & Hua Lee, 2015. "Effect of information disclosure and transparency ranking system on mispricing of accruals of Taiwanese firms," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 445-471, April.
    39. Thorsten Beck & Ross Levine & Alexey Levkov, 2010. "Big Bad Banks? The Winners and Losers from Bank Deregulation in the United States," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 65(5), pages 1637-1667, October.
    40. Roth, Jonathan & Sant’Anna, Pedro H.C. & Bilinski, Alyssa & Poe, John, 2023. "What’s trending in difference-in-differences? A synthesis of the recent econometrics literature," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 235(2), pages 2218-2244.
    41. Kim, Jeong-Bon & Li, Yinghua & Zhang, Liandong, 2011. "Corporate tax avoidance and stock price crash risk: Firm-level analysis," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(3), pages 639-662, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Yuyang & Zhu, Shuyi, 2025. "Integrity atmosphere and the cost of equity: Evidence from China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    2. Jianjun Sun & Nannan Zu & Chao Zhang, 2025. "Big data and firm greenwashing: evidence from China’s national big data comprehensive pilot zone," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.

    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. Liao, Lin & Sharma, Divesh & Yang, Yitang (Jenny) & Zhao, Rui, 2023. "Adoption and content of key audit matters and stock price crash risk," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    2. Jin, Hong-min & Su, Zhong-qin & Wang, Lu & Xiao, Zuoping, 2022. "Do academic independent directors matter? Evidence from stock price crash risk," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1129-1148.
    3. Jiang, Kangqi & Du, Xinyi & Chen, Zhongfei, 2022. "Firms' digitalization and stock price crash risk," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    4. Yuan, Li & Tao, Jing & Li, Haitong & Dai, Pengyi, 2024. "Narrative innovation disclosure and stock price crash risk: Evidence from Chinese listed firms," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    5. Zhao, Xin & Guo, Yanhong & Liu, Chuanren, 2024. "Leveraging corporate governance characteristics for stock crash risk assessment," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    6. Sanghak Choi & Hail Jung, 2021. "National Tax Service Connection and Stock Price Crash Risk: Evidence from Korea," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 22(1), pages 83-107, May.
    7. Wen, Fenghua & Xu, Longhao & Ouyang, Guangda & Kou, Gang, 2019. "Retail investor attention and stock price crash risk: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    8. Liangcheng Wang & Siying Li & Bikun Zhang & Yifan Zhang & Tao Peng, 2024. "The effect of auditor experience on stock price crash risk," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 64(1), pages 411-444, March.
    9. Dan Hu & Eunju Lee & Bingxin Li, 2023. "Trade secrets protection and stock price crash risk," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 58(2), pages 395-421, May.
    10. Su, Kun & Yang, Ruohan & Cui, Qian & Wang, Tianfu, 2024. "The geographic distance of independent directors and stock price crash risk: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    11. Kim, Jeong-Bon & Liao, Shushu & Liu, Yangke, 2021. "Married CEOs and Stock Price Crash Risk," QBS Working Paper Series 2021/09, Queen's University Belfast, Queen's Business School.
    12. Hu, Gang & Liu, Yiye & Wang, Jacqueline Wenjie & Zhou, Gaoguang & Zhu, Xindong, 2022. "Insider ownership and stock price crash risk around the globe," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    13. Leilei Gu & Jinyu Liu & Yuchao Peng, 2022. "Locality Stereotype, CEO Trustworthiness and Stock Price Crash Risk: Evidence from China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(4), pages 773-797, February.
    14. Ma, Rui & Guo, Fei & Li, Dongdong, 2024. "Can public data availability affect stock price crash risk? Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    15. Zuo, Junqing & Zhang, Wei & Hu, Mingya & Feng, Xu & Zou, Gaofeng, 2022. "Employee relations and stock price crash risk: Evidence from employee lawsuits," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    16. Rahman, Sohanur & Sinnewe, Elisabeth & Chapple, Larelle, 2024. "Environment-specific political risk discourse and expected crash risk: The role of political activism," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PB).
    17. Qiankun Gu & Jeong‐Bon Kim & Ke Liao & Yi Si, 2023. "Decentralising for local information? Evidence from state‐owned listed firms in China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(5), pages 5245-5276, December.
    18. Li, Xiaorong & Wang, Steven Shuye & Wang, Xue, 2017. "Trust and stock price crash risk: Evidence from China," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 74-91.
    19. Hongmin Jin & Lu Wang & Zuoping Xiao & Hung‐Gay Fung, 2023. "What firm risk factors drive bank loan pricing and other terms? Evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(3), pages 2985-3010, September.
    20. Chen, Wei & Dai, Lili & Fang, Xiaohua & Zhang, Wenjun, 2025. "Labor protection and stock price crash risk: Evidence from international equity markets," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(3).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation

    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:eee:corfin:v:91:y:2025:i:c:s0929119925000094. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jcorpfin .

    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.