IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/eneeco/v142y2025ics0140988325000106.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enterprise performance empowered by heterogeneous environmental laws: A digital economy

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Ranran
  • Li, Yue
  • Chen, Xueli
  • Wu, Jian
  • Song, Malin
  • Zhou, Yuanxiang

Abstract

As the uncertainty of environmental benefits and climate change leads enterprises to misuse environmental dividends for vested interest, environmental pollution is becoming a pressing issue of global concern. Governments worldwide have instigated robust laws; however, the economic dividend brought by these laws has substantial heterogeneities, and the empirical results differ significantly. In this article, a framework of the underlying mechanism and implementation path is built with digital economy, which involves environmental regulation implementation path and enterprise performance evaluation. Panel data from provinces in China from 2014 to 2021 is used to analyse the impact of environmental regulations on corporate performance under the supervision of the digital economy. This paper creatively designs a pattern based on the environmental regulation implemented in the digitization process of enterprises. It considers heterogeneity factors, for which incentives and public participation in environmental regulations have positive impacts on corporate performance, whereas the command environmental regulation has no linear influence on corporate performance. Additionally, the ascendancy role of the digital economy varies, where the regulatory role in public-participation environmental regulation is most evident. This study can provide a reference for government law formulation, environmental regulation choices, and a guideline for corporate response to external institutional pressures.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Ranran & Li, Yue & Chen, Xueli & Wu, Jian & Song, Malin & Zhou, Yuanxiang, 2025. "Enterprise performance empowered by heterogeneous environmental laws: A digital economy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:142:y:2025:i:c:s0140988325000106
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108187
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140988325000106
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108187?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. Caputo, Michael R., 2014. "Comparative statics of a monopolistic firm facing price-cap and command-and-control environmental regulations," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 464-471.
    2. Zhou, Bing & Liu, Tingting, 2023. "The impact of economic performance on the environmental protection orientation of mining enterprises: A case study of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PA).
    3. Ren, Siyu & Hao, Yu & Wu, Haitao, 2022. "The role of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on green total factor energy efficiency: Does institutional quality matters? Evidence from China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    4. Kriechel, Ben & Ziesemer, Thomas, 2003. "The Environmental Porter Hypothesis as a Technology Adoption Problem?," Research Memorandum 011, Maastricht University, Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    5. Ren, Xiaohang & Li, Wenqi & Li, Yiying, 2024. "Climate risk, digital transformation and corporate green innovation efficiency: Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    6. Ouyang, Xiaoling & Li, Qiong & Du, Kerui, 2020. "How does environmental regulation promote technological innovations in the industrial sector? Evidence from Chinese provincial panel data," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    7. Kannan, Devika, 2018. "Role of multiple stakeholders and the critical success factor theory for the sustainable supplier selection process," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 391-418.
    8. repec:dgr:umamer:2003011 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Zhilin Hu & Haoyang Li & Liguo Lin & Wei Sun & Maigeng Zhou, 2023. "Monitoring Technologies, Environmental Performance, and Health Outcomes: Evidence from China," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 10(6), pages 1581-1622.
    10. Ben Kriechel & Thomas Ziesemer, 2009. "The environmental Porter hypothesis: theory, evidence, and a model of timing of adoption," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(3), pages 267-294.
    11. Zhang, Qi & Yu, Zhi & Kong, Dongmin, 2019. "The real effect of legal institutions: Environmental courts and firm environmental protection expenditure," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    12. Jie, Guo & Jiahui, Lv, 2023. "Media attention, green technology innovation and industrial enterprises’ sustainable development: The moderating effect of environmental regulation," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 873-889.
    13. Guo, Bingnan & Wang, Yu & Zhang, Hao & Liang, Chunyan & Feng, Yu & Hu, Feng, 2023. "Impact of the digital economy on high-quality urban economic development: Evidence from Chinese cities," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    14. Liang, Jian & Jain, Ameeta & Newman, Alexander & Mount, Matthew P. & Kim, Jooyoung, 2024. "Motivated to be socially responsible? CEO regulatory focus, firm performance, and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    15. 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.
    16. Guang Chen & Yue Deng & Apurbo Sarkar & Zhengbing Wang, 2022. "An Integrated Assessment of Different Types of Environment-Friendly Technological Progress and Their Spatial Spillover Effects in the Chinese Agriculture Sector," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-24, July.
    17. repec:dgr:umamer:2005008 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Wang, Hainan & Liu, Fengshuo, 2024. "Digital finance and enterprise innovation efficiency: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    19. Li, Yiping & Zheng, Lanxing & Xie, Chang & Fang, Jiming, 2024. "Big data development and enterprise ESG performance: Empirical evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PB), pages 742-755.
    20. Blackman, Allen & Lahiri, Bidisha & Pizer, William & Rivera Planter, Marisol & Muñoz Piña, Carlos, 2010. "Voluntary environmental regulation in developing countries: Mexico's Clean Industry Program," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 60(3), pages 182-192, November.
    21. Zhang, Zhiyuan & Li, Runfei & Song, Yang & Sahut, Jean-Michel, 2024. "The impact of environmental regulation on the optimization of industrial structure in energy-based cities," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    22. Wang, Chunhua & Wu, JunJie & Zhang, Bing, 2018. "Environmental regulation, emissions and productivity: Evidence from Chinese COD-emitting manufacturers," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 54-73.
    23. Vastola, Vincenzo & Russo, Angeloantonio & Vurro, Clodia, 2017. "Dealing with Cultural Differences in Environmental Management: Exploring the CEP-CFP Relationship," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 267-275.
    24. Wu, Bangzheng & Yang, Weiguo, 2022. "Empirical test of the impact of the digital economy on China's employment structure," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    25. W. Brooke Elliott & Stephanie M. Grant & Jessen L. Hobson & Scott Asay, 2020. "Trader Participation in Disclosure: Implications of Interactions with Management†," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(1), pages 68-100, March.
    26. Li, Hai-ling & Zhu, Xue-hong & Chen, Jin-yu & Jiang, Fei-tao, 2019. "Environmental regulations, environmental governance efficiency and the green transformation of China's iron and steel enterprises," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 1-1.
    27. Michael E. Porter & Claas van der Linde, 1995. "Toward a New Conception of the Environment-Competitiveness Relationship," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 9(4), pages 97-118, Fall.
    28. repec:ner:maastr:urn:nbn:nl:ui:27-19334 is not listed on IDEAS
    29. repec:dgr:unumer:2007024 is not listed on IDEAS
    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. Zhu, Xuehong & Zuo, Xuguang & Li, Hailing, 2021. "The dual effects of heterogeneous environmental regulation on the technological innovation of Chinese steel enterprises—Based on a high-dimensional fixed effects model," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    2. Guo, Bingnan & Hu, Peiji & Lin, Ji, 2024. "The effect of digital infrastructure development on enterprise green transformation," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    3. Li, Shuangmei & Zhu, Xuehong & Zhang, Tao, 2023. "Optimum combination of heterogeneous environmental policy instruments and market for green transformation: Empirical evidence from China's metal sector," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    4. Zhang, Ming & Zhao, Yingxue, 2023. "Does environmental regulation spur innovation? Quasi-natural experiment in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    5. Gao, Weiyan & Wang, Yuzhang & Wang, Fengrong & Mbanyele, William, 2024. "Do environmental courts break collusion in environmental governance? Evidence from corporate green innovation in China," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 133-149.
    6. Zhou, Kuo & Luo, Haotian & Qu, Zhi, 2023. "What can the environmental rule of law do for environmental innovation? Evidence from environmental tribunals in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    7. Yao, Wenyun & Zhang, Yi & Ma, Jingwen & Cui, Guanghui, 2023. "Does environmental regulation affect capital-labor ratio of manufacturing enterprises: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    8. He, Wenjian & Cheng, Yu & Lin, Ying & Zhang, Hongxiao, 2022. "Microeconomic effects of designating National Forest Cities: Evidence from China's publicly traded manufacturing companies," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    9. Hao, Xiaoli & Wen, Shufang & Li, Ke & Wu, Junwei & Wu, Haitao & Hao, Yu, 2023. "Environmental governance, executive incentive, and enterprise performance: Evidence from Chinese mineral enterprises," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    10. Zhou, Peng & Song, Frank M. & Huang, Xiaoqi, 2023. "Environmental regulations and firms' green innovations: Transforming pressure into incentives," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    11. He, Zhenyu & Tang, Yuwei, 2023. "Local environmental constraints and firms’ export product quality: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    12. Liu, Shimeng & Xiong, Xiong & Gao, Ya, 2025. "Market-based environmental regulations and green innovation: Evidence from the pilot carbon markets in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(PA).
    13. Xin Nie & Jianxian Wu & Han Wang & Weijuan Li & Chengdao Huang & Lihua Li, 2022. "Contributing to carbon peak: Estimating the causal impact of eco‐industrial parks on low‐carbon development in China," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1578-1593, August.
    14. Fu, Shuke & Ge, Yingchen & Hao, Yu & Peng, Jiachao & Tian, Jiali, 2024. "Energy supply chain efficiency in the digital era: Evidence from China's listed companies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    15. Zhao, Xing & Guo, Yifan & Feng, Tianchu, 2023. "Towards green recovery: Natural resources utilization efficiency under the impact of environmental information disclosure," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    16. Zhang, Yijun & Li, Xiaoping & Song, Yi & Jiang, Feitao, 2021. "Can green industrial policy improve total factor productivity? Firm-level evidence from China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 51-62.
    17. Zhice Cheng & Xinyuan Chen & Huwei Wen, 2022. "How Does Environmental Protection Tax Affect Corporate Environmental Investment? Evidence from Chinese Listed Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-22, March.
    18. Zhu, Jing & Zhang, Chen & Sun, Jiaojiao & Ding, Jiajun, 2025. "The impact mechanism of interactive carbon disclosure on firm value moderated by investors’ online social networks," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    19. Zhao, Yujie & Yang, Yuanyuan & Hua, Min & Chan, Kam C., 2024. "Social credit scoring system and corporate pollution governance: Insights from China's Social Credit System Construction," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    20. Shi, Jinyan & Yu, Conghui & Li, Yanxi & Wang, Tianhe, 2022. "Does green financial policy affect debt-financing cost of heavy-polluting enterprises? An empirical evidence based on Chinese pilot zones for green finance reform and innovations," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:eneeco:v:142:y:2025:i:c:s0140988325000106. 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/eneco .

    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.