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Green financial regulation and corporate strategic ESG behavior: Evidence from China

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  • Jin, Xuanxuan
  • Qi, Hanying
  • Huang, Xin

Abstract

This article examines the impact of the Green Financial Regulatory Policy on corporate strategic ESG behavior against the backdrop of the 2017 policy integration of “green finance” into the Macro-Prudential Assessment by the central bank. The research identifies that GFRP may shift corporate focus towards the disclosure of ESG performance while neglecting the actual practices of ESG engagement, potentially inducing firms to engage in ESG greenwashing. It is further posited that corporate green perception and executives' environmental backgrounds serve as primary mechanisms in this dynamic. Additionally, the policy efficacy of GFRP on strategic ESG behavior exhibits heterogeneity.

Suggested Citation

  • Jin, Xuanxuan & Qi, Hanying & Huang, Xin, 2024. "Green financial regulation and corporate strategic ESG behavior: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:65:y:2024:i:c:s1544612324006111
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.105581
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    2. Kathan, Manuel C. & Utz, Sebastian & Dorfleitner, Gregor & Eckberg, Jens & Chmel, Lea, 2025. "What you see is not what you get: ESG scores and greenwashing risk," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
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    5. Xue, Kunkun & Chen, Xiaoxiao & Sun, Peipei & Li, Yongqing, 2024. "Supply chain network centrality and corporate greenwashing behavior," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    6. Xu, Zhixiang & Liu, Dehong & Li, Yushu & Guo, Fanyu, 2025. "ESG and Stock Price Volatility Risk: Evidence from Chinese A-share Market," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(PA).
    7. Yuxiao Gu & Shihong Zeng & Qiao Peng, 2025. "The Mutual Relationships Between ESG, Total Factor Productivity (TFP), and Energy Efficiency (EE) for Chinese Listed Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-42, March.

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