IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v73y2025ics1544612324016623.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Energy transition policy and green innovation quality

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Ying
  • Liao, Weixiao
  • Zhao, Xing
  • Lian, Peng

Abstract

Although green innovation is crucial for sustainable development, the effectiveness of targeted environmental policies in driving corporate innovation quality remains unclear, particularly in the context of city-level energy transition initiatives. Despite growing research on environmental regulations and innovation, limited attention has been paid to how these policies interact with local environmental conditions and corporate governance structures to influence innovation outcomes. This study examines China's New Energy Pilot City Policy (NEPCP) to understand its impact on corporate green innovation quality through environmental pressure and economic incentives. Using data from 16,100 observations of Chinese listed companies between 2007 and 2021, we employ difference-in-differences analysis, complemented by parallel trend tests and propensity score matching. Findings reveal that NEPCP positively influences corporate green innovation quality, with stronger effects in eastern regions and low-pollution industries. Moreover, CEO compensation emerges as a positive moderator, while air pollution presents complex moderating effects. Regional heterogeneity analysis shows significant policy effectiveness in economically developed areas, suggesting the importance of local implementation capacity. These insights advance our understanding of environmental policy design, emphasizing the need for regionally tailored approaches and integrated corporate governance mechanisms for sustainable innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Ying & Liao, Weixiao & Zhao, Xing & Lian, Peng, 2025. "Energy transition policy and green innovation quality," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:73:y:2025:i:c:s1544612324016623
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106633
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612324016623
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2024.106633?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 search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Brännlund, Runar & Lundgren, Tommy, 2009. "Environmental policy without costs? A review of the Porter hypothesis," Umeå Economic Studies 766, Umeå University, Department of Economics.
    2. Yin, Hongying & Qian, Yuting & Zhang, Bin & Pérez, Rebeca, 2023. "Urban construction and firm green innovation: Evidence from China's low-carbon pilot city initiative," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    3. Du, Gang & Yu, Meng & Sun, Chuanwang & Han, Zhao, 2021. "Green innovation effect of emission trading policy on pilot areas and neighboring areas: An analysis based on the spatial econometric model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    4. Paul Lanoie & Jérémy Laurent‐Lucchetti & Nick Johnstone & Stefan Ambec, 2011. "Environmental Policy, Innovation and Performance: New Insights on the Porter Hypothesis," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(3), pages 803-842, September.
    5. Chaofan Chen & Yongsheng Lin & Ning Lv & Wei Zhang & Yawen Sun, 2022. "Can government low-carbon regulation stimulate urban green innovation? Quasi-experimental evidence from China’s low-carbon city pilot policy," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(57), pages 6559-6579, December.
    6. Zhou, Bingjun & Gao, Ke & Ning, Jing & Zhang, Anqi & Dai, Jiapeng, 2024. "Does air pollution change the business strategy for investment? The strategic influence of national governance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    7. Brännlund, Runar & Lundgren, Tommy, 2009. "Environmental policy without costs? A review of the Porter hypothesis," Sustainable Investment and Corporate Governance Working Papers 2009/1, Sustainable Investment Research Platform.
    8. Wang, Zhen & Huang, Yaoxuan & Ankrah, Victoria & Dai, Jiapeng, 2023. "Greening the knowledge-based economies: Harnessing natural resources and innovation in information and communication technologies for green growth," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PA).
    9. Zhijiu Yang & Daqian Shi, 2023. "Towards carbon neutrality: the impact of innovative city pilot policy on corporate carbon intensity in China," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(8), pages 975-988, September.
    10. Brannlund, Runar & Lundgren, Tommy, 2009. "Environmental Policy Without Costs? A Review of the Porter Hypothesis," International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics, now publishers, vol. 3(2), pages 75-117, September.
    11. Tian, Yanping & Song, Wenjing & Liu, Min, 2021. "Assessment of how environmental policy affects urban innovation: Evidence from China’s low-carbon pilot cities program," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 41-56.
    12. Wang, Qiao & Yi, Hongtao, 2021. "New energy demonstration program and China's urban green economic growth: Do regional characteristics make a difference?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    13. Chen, Qianqian, 2024. "From concept to capital: Investigating the influence of green innovation on equity financing in BRICS economies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    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. R. De Santis & P. Esposito & C. Jona Lasinio, 2021. "Environmental regulation and productivity growth: Main policy challenges," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 165, pages 264-277.
    2. Yang, Chih-Hai & Tseng, Yu-Hsuan & Chen, Chiang-Ping, 2012. "Environmental regulations, induced R&D, and productivity: Evidence from Taiwan's manufacturing industries," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 514-532.
    3. Li, Yu & Yaacob, Mohd Hasimi & Xie, Tao, 2024. "Effects of China's low carbon pilot city policy on corporate green innovation: Considering the mediating role of public environmental concern," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    4. Söderholm, Kristina & Söderholm, Patrik & Helenius, Heidi & Pettersson, Maria & Viklund, Roine & Masloboev, Vladimir & Mingaleva, Tatiana & Petrov, Viktor, 2015. "Environmental regulation and competitiveness in the mining industry: Permitting processes with special focus on Finland, Sweden and Russia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 130-142.
    5. Stefan Ambec & Mark A. Cohen & Stewart Elgie & Paul Lanoie, 2013. "The Porter Hypothesis at 20: Can Environmental Regulation Enhance Innovation and Competitiveness?," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 7(1), pages 2-22, January.
    6. Anabel Zárate-Marco & Jaime Vallés-Giménez, 2015. "Environmental tax and productivity in a decentralized context: new findings on the Porter hypothesis," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 40(2), pages 313-339, October.
    7. Finn R. Førsund, 2021. "Performance measurement and joint production of intended and unintended outputs," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 157-175, June.
    8. Huang, Jingchang & Zhao, Jing & Cao, June, 2021. "Environmental regulation and corporate R&D investment—evidence from a quasi-natural experiment," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 154-174.
    9. Maria Pettersson & Patrik Söderholm, 2014. "Industrial Pollution Control and Efficient Licensing Processes: The Case of Swedish Regulatory Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(8), pages 1-22, August.
    10. Erik Hille & Patrick Möbius, 2019. "Environmental Policy, Innovation, and Productivity Growth: Controlling the Effects of Regulation and Endogeneity," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 73(4), pages 1315-1355, August.
    11. Sascha Rexhäuser & Christian Rammer, 2014. "Environmental Innovations and Firm Profitability: Unmasking the Porter Hypothesis," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 57(1), pages 145-167, January.
    12. Otrachshenko, Vladimir & Popova, Olga, 2024. "Environment vs. Economic Growth: Do Environmental Preferences Translate Into Support for Green Parties?," IZA Discussion Papers 17475, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Valadkhani, Abbas & Roshdi, Israfil & Smyth, Russell, 2016. "A multiplicative environmental DEA approach to measure efficiency changes in the world's major polluters," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 363-375.
    14. Andries, Petra & Daou, Alain & Verheyden, Laura, 2019. "Innovation as a vehicle for improving socially vulnerable groups’ access to basic provisions: A research note on the development of a questionnaire module," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 281-288.
    15. Shreekant Gupta & Bishwanath Goldar & Shubham Dang, 2019. "Environmental Performance And Capital Markets--Evidence From India," Working papers 303, Centre for Development Economics, Delhi School of Economics.
    16. Petra Andries & Ute Stephan, 2019. "Environmental Innovation and Firm Performance: How Firm Size and Motives Matter," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-17, June.
    17. Tommy Lundgren & Per-Olov Marklund, 2015. "Climate policy, environmental performance, and profits," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 225-235, December.
    18. Xie, Rong-hui & Yuan, Yi-jun & Huang, Jing-jing, 2017. "Different Types of Environmental Regulations and Heterogeneous Influence on “Green” Productivity: Evidence from China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 104-112.
    19. Lundgren, Tommy & Marklund, Per-Olov, 2010. "Climate Policy and Profit Efficiency," Sustainable Investment and Corporate Governance Working Papers 2010/12, Sustainable Investment Research Platform.
    20. Montalbano, P. & Nenci, S., 2019. "Energy efficiency, productivity and exporting: Firm-level evidence in Latin America," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 97-110.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental policy; Green innovation; Regional heterogeneity; Corporate governance; Innovation Quality; Environmental Regulation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

    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:finlet:v:73:y:2025:i:c:s1544612324016623. 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/frl .

    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.