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Does Chinese companies' OFDI enhance their own green technology innovation?

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Weiwei
  • Zhang, Shijin
  • Chen, Fu
  • Wang, Yuan
  • Zhang, Yichi

Abstract

This paper discusses the impacts of Chinese corporations’ outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on their own green technology innovation. Based on the OFDI sample data of Chinese listed multinational corporations from 2010 to 2021, this study draws several key conclusions. Firstly, it is found that the green technology innovation of these corporations is positively influenced by their OFDI. Secondly, this impact is more pronounced on substantive green technology innovation than on strategic green technology innovation. In addition, the risk preference of senior executives plays a moderating role between Chinese corporations’ OFDI and their own green technology innovation. The findings of this study enrich the literature regarding OFDI and green technology innovation and provide a universal reference for increasing corporations’ foreign investment and promoting green technology innovation in emerging countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Weiwei & Zhang, Shijin & Chen, Fu & Wang, Yuan & Zhang, Yichi, 2023. "Does Chinese companies' OFDI enhance their own green technology innovation?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:56:y:2023:i:c:s1544612323004853
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2023.104113
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yanyi Wang & Xueyong Zhang, 2025. "OFDI and stock price synchronicity: Evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 65(2), pages 1275-1308, June.
    2. Yu, Zuwei & Chen, Guangren & Pei, Xiangjing & Gao, Zhixiong & Ding, Yu, 2024. "The impact of corporate social responsibility on green technology innovation: An empirical study of listed companies in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    3. Qiu, Weijian & Yang, Wenxuan & Qiu, Le, 2025. "Population aging, market competition and enterprise green innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    4. Nie, Changfei & Ye, Susu & Feng, Yuan, 2024. "Place-based policy and urban green technology innovation: Evidence from the revitalization of old revolutionary base areas in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 1257-1272.
    5. Ahmed Nazzal & Angels Monserrat Niñerola & Maria-Victoria Sánchez-Rebull & Maria Glòria Barberà-Mariné, 2025. "A systematic mapping review of foreign direct investment by multinational corporations in emerging economies," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, December.
    6. Zhou, Yacheng & Huo, Weidong & Bo, Lan & Chen, Xiaoxian, 2023. "Impact and mechanism analysis of ESG ratings on the efficiency of green technology innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PD).
    7. Zhou, Jing & Wu, Kaiwen & Li, Youwei, 2025. "Does firm internationalization improve ESG performance? Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    8. Li, Huidi & Liu, Jiali & Wang, Huiru, 2024. "Impact of green technology innovation on the quality of regional economic development," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PB), pages 463-476.
    9. Khurram, Muhammad Usman & Abbassi, Wajih & Chen, Yifan & Chen, Lifeng, 2024. "Outward foreign investment performance, digital transformation, and ESG performance: Evidence from China," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    10. Shi, Hongyu & Zhou, Qun, 2024. "Government R&D Subsidies, Environmental regulation and corporate green innovation performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 69(PB).
    11. Guo, Yaxian & Dong, Bisong, 2025. "Green technology innovation in enterprises and financial market valuation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    12. Liu, Yaobin & Hu, Sheng & Wang, Chenchen, 2024. "The green innovation spillover effect of enterprise digital transformation: Based on supply chain perspective," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 1381-1393.
    13. Jianlong Wang & Haitao Wu & Yong Liu & Weilong Wang, 2024. "Going out and bringing in: Exploring the impact of OFDI on green innovation performance under firms' digital transformation strategies," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 45(4), pages 2428-2442, June.
    14. Cai, Xiang & Zhao, Xiaohui & Jiang, Cuiting & Zhang, Liguo, 2024. "China's foreign direct investments: Do they promote domestic green technology?," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 60-74.
    15. Shao, Yanmin & Li, Junlong & Zhang, Xueli, 2024. "Outward foreign direct investment and green technology innovation: A company and host country perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    16. Ziqian Zhao & Decai Tang & Jiannan Li, 2025. "Driving role of digital finance on economic resilience: threshold effects of industrial structure upgrading and social security," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 58(6), pages 1-43, December.
    17. Huang, Guangfeng & Wu, Shuying & Chen, Lishuang, 2025. "The belt and road initiative, outward foreign direct investment, and technological innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    18. Ge, Huahua & Chen, Zaixin & Gao, Pengfei & Wang, Chenbo, 2025. "Going global, going green: How outward FDI enhances corporate green innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).

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