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Government as major customer: The effects of government procurement on corporate environmental, social, and governance performance

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  • Huang, Jun
  • Han, Feifei
  • Li, Yun

Abstract

This study examines how the government's participation in the product market as a customer affects supplier firms’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. Using a sample of Chinese listed firms from 2010 to 2020, we find that firms with major government customers exhibit higher ESG performance than those without them. Further analysis shows that female managers, institutional ownership, media coverage, and public attention enhance the positive relationship between major government customers and ESG performance. Overall, the findings suggest that as an important public policy, government procurement can significantly affect stakeholders’ value by improving supplier firms’ ESG performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Huang, Jun & Han, Feifei & Li, Yun, 2023. "Government as major customer: The effects of government procurement on corporate environmental, social, and governance performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:54:y:2023:i:c:s154461232300154x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2023.103781
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Ming, Yaxin & Li, Yubo & Liu, Nian & Li, Jing, 2023. "Retail investor attention and corporate environmental performance: Evidence from china," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    3. Weizheng Sun & Meixin Kou & Xiaoyue Zhang & Yin Cui & Shuning Chen, 2024. "How Does a Major Corporate Customer’s ESG Performance Drive the Supplier’s Green Innovation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-31, September.
    4. Anrafel de Souza Barbosa & Maria Cristina Crispim & Luiz Bueno da Silva & Jonhatan Magno Norte da Silva & Aglaucibelly Maciel Barbosa & Sandra Naomi Morioka, 2024. "How can organizations measure the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria? Validation of an instrument using item response theory to capture workers' perception," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3607-3634, May.

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