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Capital market opening and corporate environmental performance: Empirical evidence from China

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  • Zhang, Rongwu
  • Fu, Wenqiang
  • Lu, Tong

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of capital market opening on corporate environmental performance (CEP), using Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect as quasi-natural experiments. We find that capital market opening can improve CEP, and our conclusion is robust after a placebo test and a series of robustness tests are conducted. Further investigations show that the opening policy loosens corporate financing constraints and promotes corporate green innovations. We also explore the motivation of this relationship: the improvement of CEP after the opening of the capital market is accompanied by increases in corporate value.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Rongwu & Fu, Wenqiang & Lu, Tong, 2023. "Capital market opening and corporate environmental performance: Empirical evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:53:y:2023:i:c:s1544612322007632
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2022.103587
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