IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ememar/v64y2025ics1566014124001316.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Do corporate environmental violations affect trade credit? Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Gong, Guangming
  • Yang, Ni

Abstract

Using a large sample of Chinese listed companies from 2007 to 2018, we show that firms with environmental violations receive less trade credit from suppliers than their counterparts. Mutual trust and repayment ability are two plausible mechanisms through which corporate environmental violations affect trade credit. Heterogeneity tests show that this reduction is greater for firms facing fierce market competition, firms in regions with lower bank competition, and firms in regions with lower marketization. Finally, we find that the impact of corporate environmental violations can be influenced by the penalty agency level and can extend further down the supply chain.

Suggested Citation

  • Gong, Guangming & Yang, Ni, 2025. "Do corporate environmental violations affect trade credit? Evidence from China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ememar:v:64:y:2025:i:c:s1566014124001316
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ememar.2024.101236
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1566014124001316
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ememar.2024.101236?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. Pascual Berrone & Andrea Fosfuri & Liliana Gelabert, 2017. "Does Greenwashing Pay Off? Understanding the Relationship Between Environmental Actions and Environmental Legitimacy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(2), pages 363-379, August.
    2. Dasgupta, Susmita & Hong, Jong Ho & Laplante, Benoit & Mamingi, Nlandu, 2006. "Disclosure of environmental violations and stock market in the Republic of Korea," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(4), pages 759-777, July.
    3. Luigi Guiso & Tullio Jappelli & Mario Padula & Marco Pagano, 2004. "Financial market integration and economic growth in the EU [‘International measures of schooling years and schooling quality’]," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 19(40), pages 524-577.
    4. Casey, Eddie & O'Toole, Conor M., 2014. "Bank lending constraints, trade credit and alternative financing during the financial crisis: Evidence from European SMEs," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 173-193.
    5. Petersen, Mitchell A & Rajan, Raghuram G, 1997. "Trade Credit: Theories and Evidence," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 10(3), pages 661-691.
    6. Fabbri, Daniela & Menichini, Anna Maria C., 2010. "Trade credit, collateral liquidation, and borrowing constraints," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(3), pages 413-432, June.
    7. Gonçalves, Adalto Barbaceia & Schiozer, Rafael F. & Sheng, Hsia Hua, 2018. "Trade credit and product market power during a financial crisis," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 308-323.
    8. Raymond Fisman & Mayank Raturi, 2004. "Does Competition Encourage Credit Provision? Evidence from African Trade Credit Relationships," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 86(1), pages 345-352, February.
    9. Xiao Li & Jeffrey Ng & Walid Saffar, 2021. "Financial Reporting and Trade Credit: Evidence from Mandatory IFRS Adoption," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(1), pages 96-128, March.
    10. Ferrando, Annalisa & Mulier, Klaas, 2013. "Do firms use the trade credit channel to manage growth?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(8), pages 3035-3046.
    11. Gyimah, Daniel & Machokoto, Michael & Sikochi, Anywhere (Siko), 2020. "Peer influence on trade credit," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    12. Muhammad Nadeem, 2021. "Corporate Governance and Supplemental Environmental Projects: A Restorative Justice Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 173(2), pages 261-280, October.
    13. Anton Shevchenko, 2021. "Do financial penalties for environmental violations facilitate improvements in corporate environmental performance? An empirical investigation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1723-1734, May.
    14. A. Colin Cameron & Douglas L. Miller, 2015. "A Practitioner’s Guide to Cluster-Robust Inference," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 50(2), pages 317-372.
    15. Hongkang Xu & Jia Wu & Mai Dao, 2020. "Corporate social responsibility and trade credit," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 54(4), pages 1389-1416, May.
    16. Mateut, Simona & Bougheas, Spiros & Mizen, Paul, 2006. "Trade credit, bank lending and monetary policy transmission," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 603-629, April.
    17. Xiaofeng Quan & Cheng Xiang & Ru (Tina) Gao, 2024. "Reputation is golden: Superstar CEOs and trade credit," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1-2), pages 631-656, January.
    18. Xiong, Yangchun & Lam, Hugo K.S. & Hu, Qiaoxuan & Yee, Rachel W.Y. & Blome, Constantin, 2021. "The financial impacts of environmental violations on supply chains: Evidence from an emerging market," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    19. X. Xu & S. Zeng & C. Tam, 2012. "Stock Market’s Reaction to Disclosure of Environmental Violations: Evidence from China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 107(2), pages 227-237, May.
    20. Elster, Jon, 1989. "Social Norms and Economic Theory," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 3(4), pages 99-117, Fall.
    21. repec:oup:ecpoli:v:19:y:2004:i:40:p:523-577 is not listed on IDEAS
    22. Chee K. Ng & Janet Kiholm Smith & Richard L. Smith, 1999. "Evidence on the Determinants of Credit Terms Used in Interfirm Trade," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 54(3), pages 1109-1129, June.
    23. Jiang, Fuxiu & Xia, Xiaoxue & Zheng, Xiaojia, 2021. "Does controlling shareholders' share pledging raise suppliers' eyebrows?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    24. Michael S. Long & Ileen B. Malitz & S. Abraham Ravid, 1993. "Trade Credit, Quality Guarantees, and Product," Financial Management, Financial Management Association, vol. 22(4), Winter.
    25. El Ghoul, Sadok & Zheng, Xiaolan, 2016. "Trade credit provision and national culture," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 475-501.
    26. Han Lin & Saixing Zeng & Liangyan Wang & Hailiang Zou & Hanyang Ma, 2016. "How Does Environmental Irresponsibility Impair Corporate Reputation? A Multi‐Method Investigation," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(6), pages 413-423, November.
    27. James, Hui Liang & Ngo, Thanh & Wang, Hongxia, 2023. "The impact of more able managers on corporate trade credit," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    28. Smith, Janet Kiholm, 1987. "Trade Credit and Informational Asymmetry," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 42(4), pages 863-872, September.
    29. Sirui Wu & Guangming Gong & Xin Huang & Haowen Tian, 2022. "The Interaction Between Suppliers and Fraudulent Customer Firms: Evidence from Trade Credit Financing of Chinese Listed Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(2), pages 531-550, August.
    30. Dayuan Li & Min Huang & Shenggang Ren & Xiaohong Chen & Lutao Ning, 2018. "Environmental Legitimacy, Green Innovation, and Corporate Carbon Disclosure: Evidence from CDP China 100," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(4), pages 1089-1104, July.
    31. Cristel Antonia Russell & Dale W. Russell & Heather Honea, 2016. "Corporate Social Responsibility Failures: How do Consumers Respond to Corporate Violations of Implied Social Contracts?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(4), pages 759-773, July.
    32. Yassin Denis Bouzzine & Rainer Lueg, 2020. "The contagion effect of environmental violations: The case of Dieselgate in Germany," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3187-3202, December.
    33. Babar, Md. & Habib, Ahsan, 2021. "Product market competition in accounting, finance, and corporate governance: A review of the literature," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    34. Chen, Shenglan & Ma, Hui & Wu, Qiang, 2019. "Bank credit and trade credit: Evidence from natural experiments," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    35. Gan, Xiao Dong & Zheng, Xiao Yu & Li, Cong Cong & Zhu, Gui Qin, 2024. "Green bond issuance and trade credit access: Evidence from Chinese bond market," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    36. Price, Joseph M. & Sun, Wenbin, 2017. "Doing good and doing bad: The impact of corporate social responsibility and irresponsibility on firm performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 82-97.
    37. O'Toole, Conor & Casey, Eddie, 2014. "Bank-lending Constraints, Trade Credit and Alternative External Finance since the Financial Crisis: Evidence from European SMEs," Papers RB2014/2/3, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    38. H. L. Zou & R. C. Zeng & S. X. Zeng & Jonathan J. Shi, 2015. "How Do Environmental Violation Events Harm Corporate Reputation?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(8), pages 836-854, December.
    39. James H. Stock & Motohiro Yogo, 2002. "Testing for Weak Instruments in Linear IV Regression," NBER Technical Working Papers 0284, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    40. Edward I. Altman, 1968. "Financial Ratios, Discriminant Analysis And The Prediction Of Corporate Bankruptcy," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 23(4), pages 589-609, September.
    41. Jin, Youliang & Wang, Shujuan & Cheng, Xu & Zeng, Huixiang, 2024. "Can environmental tax reform curb corporate environmental violations? A quasi-natural experiment based on China's “environmental fees to taxes”," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    42. repec:bla:ecpoli:v:19:y:2004:i:40:p:523-577 is not listed on IDEAS
    43. Zhou, Zhongsheng & Li, Zhuo, 2023. "Corporate digital transformation and trade credit financing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    44. Xin, Zhuoyao & Zhang, Zongyi & Xiang, Cheng, 2024. "Do suppliers value clients’ ESG profiles? Evidence from Chinese firms," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 241-258.
    45. Michael A. Abebe & Keshab Acharya, 2022. "Founder CEOs and corporate environmental violations: Evidence from S&P 1500 firms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 1204-1219, March.
    46. Wu, Bao & Jin, Chenfei & Monfort, Abel & Hua, Danni, 2021. "Generous charity to preserve green image? Exploring linkage between strategic donations and environmental misconduct," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 839-850.
    47. Li, Chen & Sensoy, Ahmet & Song, Ce & Zhang, Mi, 2023. "Does corporate green innovation behaviour impact trade credit? Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    48. Wang, Yujie & Tsang, Albert & Xiang, Yi & Yao, Daifei (Troy), 2023. "Corporate social responsibility misconduct and formation of board interlocks," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    49. Valerie J. Karplus & Junjie Zhang & Jinhua Zhao, 2021. "Navigating and Evaluating the Labyrinth of Environmental Regulation in China," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 15(2), pages 300-322.
    50. Li, Wenqin & Benkraiem, Ramzi & Ding, Rong & Saadi, Samir & Zhang, Ziyang (John), 2024. "Board centrality and environmental disclosures: Evidence from the polluting Industries in China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    51. Wu, Wenfeng & Firth, Michael & Rui, Oliver M., 2014. "Trust and the provision of trade credit," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 146-159.
    52. Leon, Florian, 2015. "Does bank competition alleviate credit constraints in developing countries?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 130-142.
    53. Ge, Ying & Qiu, Jiaping, 2007. "Financial development, bank discrimination and trade credit," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 513-530, February.
    54. Wang, Chaochao & Dong, Yan & Ge, Ran, 2023. "Bank branching deregulation and the credit risk of the regional banking sector: Evidence from city commercial banks in China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    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. Zhou, Zhongsheng & Li, Zhuo, 2023. "Corporate digital transformation and trade credit financing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    2. Wenwu Cai & Xiaofeng Quan & Gary Gang Tian, 2023. "Local Corruption and Trade Credit: Evidence from an Emerging Market," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 185(3), pages 563-594, July.
    3. Yang, Jie & Yu, Juan & Bao, Mengqi, 2025. "Intelligent manufacturing and trade credit," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    4. Chen, Xiaomeng Charlene & Jones, Stewart & Hasan, Mostafa Monzur & Zhao, Ruoyun & Alam, Nurul, 2023. "Does strategic deviation influence firms’ use of supplier finance?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    5. Wang, Meng & Goodell, John W. & Huang, Wei & Jiang, Ying, 2023. "Trade credit provision and stock price crash risk," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    6. Gyimah, Daniel & Machokoto, Michael & Sikochi, Anywhere (Siko), 2020. "Peer influence on trade credit," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    7. Hasan, Mostafa Monzur & Alam, Nurul, 2022. "Asset redeployability and trade credit," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    8. Li, Tongxia & Lu, Chun & Wang, Hui, 2023. "Stakeholder orientation and trade credit: Evidence from a natural experiment," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 15-34.
    9. Tarkom, Augustine & Yang, Lukai, 2024. "Presidential economic approval rating and trade credit," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    10. Afrifa, Godfred Adjapong & Gyapong, Ernest & Monem, Reza M., 2018. "Product differentiation, market dynamics and the value relevance of trade payables: Evidence from UK listed firms," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 235-253.
    11. Michael Machokoto & Daniel Gyimah & Boulis Maher Ibrahim, 2022. "The evolution of trade credit: new evidence from developed versus developing countries," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 857-912, October.
    12. Xiaofeng Quan & Cheng Xiang & Ru (Tina) Gao, 2024. "Reputation is golden: Superstar CEOs and trade credit," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1-2), pages 631-656, January.
    13. Liu, Qigui & Luo, Jinbo & Tian, Gary Gang, 2016. "Managerial professional connections versus political connections: Evidence from firms' access to informal financing resources," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 179-200.
    14. Lai, Shaojie & Chen, Lihan & Wang, Qing Sophie & Anderson, Hamish, 2022. "Natural disasters, trade credit, and firm performance," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    15. McGuinness, Gerard & Hogan, Teresa & Powell, Ronan, 2018. "European trade credit use and SME survival," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 81-103.
    16. Abdulla, Yomna & Dang, Viet Anh & Khurshed, Arif, 2020. "Suppliers' listing status and trade credit provision," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    17. Xin, Zhuoyao & Zhang, Zongyi & Xiang, Cheng, 2024. "Do suppliers value clients’ ESG profiles? Evidence from Chinese firms," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 241-258.
    18. Nam, Hocheol & Uchida, Konari, 2019. "Accounts payable and firm value: International evidence," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 116-137.
    19. Hasan, Mostafa Monzur & Habib, Ahsan, 2019. "Social capital and trade credit," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 158-174.
    20. Xu, Qifa & Tan, Chao & Jiang, Cuixia & Zhao, Qinna, 2022. "Surname relationship and trade credit: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).

    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:ememar:v:64:y:2025:i:c:s1566014124001316. 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/inca/620356 .

    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.