IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v77y2025ics154461232500282x.html

Government digital governance and corporate investment efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Liu, Liyuan
  • Feng, Yi

Abstract

Government digital governance is a key driver of national governance modernization and economic development. This paper analyzes the “national pilot policy of information benefit the people” as a quasi-natural experiment, using a difference-in-differences model to evaluate its impact on enterprise investment efficiency. Results show that government digital governance improves investment efficiency by reducing information asymmetry and limiting short-term debt and long-term asset use. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the positive effects are more significant in cases without executive changes and with higher agency costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Liyuan & Feng, Yi, 2025. "Government digital governance and corporate investment efficiency," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:77:y:2025:i:c:s154461232500282x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2025.107018
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S154461232500282X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2025.107018?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Biddle, Gary C. & Hilary, Gilles & Verdi, Rodrigo S., 2009. "How does financial reporting quality relate to investment efficiency?," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(2-3), pages 112-131, December.
    2. Hovakimian, Gayané, 2011. "Financial constraints and investment efficiency: Internal capital allocation across the business cycle," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 264-283, April.
    3. Motohiro Nakauchi & Margarethe F. Wiersema, 2015. "Executive succession and strategic change in Japan," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(2), pages 298-306, February.
    4. Yue Cao & Yizhe Dong & Yu Lu & Diandian Ma, 2020. "Does Institutional Ownership Improve Firm Investment Efficiency?," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(12), pages 2772-2792, September.
    5. Lugo, Stefano, 2021. "Short-term debt catering," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    6. Naeem, Kashif & Li, Matthew C., 2019. "Corporate investment efficiency: The role of financial development in firms with financing constraints and agency issues in OECD non-financial firms," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 53-68.
    7. Mohammed Benlemlih & Mohammad Bitar, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Investment Efficiency," Post-Print halshs-01321227, HAL.
    8. Chen, Ruiyuan & El Ghoul, Sadok & Guedhami, Omrane & Wang, He, 2017. "Do state and foreign ownership affect investment efficiency? Evidence from privatizations," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 408-421.
    9. Chen, Yan & Sun, Ruiqi, 2023. "Corporate financialization and the long-term use of short-term debt: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PD).
    10. Chen, Shimin & Sun, Zheng & Tang, Song & Wu, Donghui, 2011. "Government intervention and investment efficiency: Evidence from China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 259-271, April.
    11. Yue Cao & Yizhe Dong & Yu Lu & Diandian Ma, 2020. "Does Institutional Ownership Improve Firm Investment Efficiency?," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(12), pages 2772-2792, September.
    12. Zhou, Bole & Zhao, Shouguo, 2022. "Industrial policy and corporate investment efficiency," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    13. Bontempi, Maria Elena & Bottazzi, Laura & Golinelli, Roberto, 2020. "A multilevel index of heterogeneous short-term and long-term debt dynamics," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    14. Jinhua Cui & Hoje Jo & Haejung Na, 2018. "Does Corporate Social Responsibility Affect Information Asymmetry?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(3), pages 549-572, March.
    15. Jonathan Roth, 2022. "Pretest with Caution: Event-Study Estimates after Testing for Parallel Trends," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 4(3), pages 305-322, September.
    16. García Lara, Juan Manuel & García Osma, Beatriz & Penalva, Fernando, 2016. "Accounting conservatism and firm investment efficiency," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 221-238.
    17. Mohammed Benlemlih & Mohammad Bitar, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Investment Efficiency," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(3), pages 647-671, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhou, Yuanyuan & Ge, Hongyu, 2025. "Can government digital governance alleviate factor market distortions?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 86(PF).
    2. Wu, Shan & Zou, Mengqi & Jin, Tongen, 2025. "Data element marketization and corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 104(PA).

    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. He Xiao, 2023. "Institutional investors' corporate site visits and corporate investment efficiency," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 23(2), pages 359-392, June.
    2. Yaoyao Li & Tianmei Wang, 2023. "Change in company leadership, subordinate executive team restructuring, and investment efficiency," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(7), pages 3846-3866, October.
    3. Wang, Liangcheng & Chen, Yizheng, 2025. "Artificial intelligence and corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    4. Yu, Ziqin & Xiao, Xiang & Ge, Ge, 2025. "Shadow banking regulation and firm investment efficiency: Evidence from China's new regulation of capital management," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(PB).
    5. Nga Trinh, 2024. "Economic Policy Uncertainty and Corporate Investment Efficiency: Evidence from Australian Energy Companies," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(1), pages 53-60, January.
    6. BENKRAIEM, Ramzi & GAAYA, Safa & LAKHAL, Faten, 2024. "Tax avoidance, investor protection, and investment inefficiency: An international evidence," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    7. Lee, Yehwan & Han, Seung Hun, 2025. "ESG news spillover and corporate investment efficiency," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    8. Zhe Li & Oksana Pryshchepa & Bo Wang, 2023. "Financial experts on the top management team: Do they reduce investment inefficiency?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1-2), pages 198-235, January.
    9. Rayed Obaid Hammoud Alobaid & Ameen Qasem & Adel Ali Al-Qadasi, 2024. "Corporate Social Responsibility, Ownership Structure, and Firm Investment Efficiency: Evidence from the Saudi Stock Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-25, August.
    10. Claudia Girardone & Jiyuan Li & Yiwei Li & Mengying Zhao, 2025. "CEO Inside Debt and Corporate Investment Efficiency," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(4), pages 3345-3367, October.
    11. Rehana Anwar & Jaleel A. Malik, 2020. "When Does Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure Affect Investment Efficiency? A New Answer to an Old Question," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, June.
    12. Xiaopeng Wang & Xueyao Shen & Yongliang Yang, 2020. "Does Environmental Information Disclosure Make Firms’ Investments More Efficient? Evidence from Measure 2007 of Chinese A-Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, March.
    13. Sabahat Riaz & Mohamed Hisham Hanifa & Fauzi Zainir, 2021. "Does Foreign Institutional Equity Participation Instigate Sustainable Corporate Investment Efficiency? Evidence from Emerging Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-17, April.
    14. Gao, Yihong, 2025. "How do social insurance premiums influence corporate underinvestment? Evidence from an emerging market," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    15. Monika Dahiya & Shveta Singh & Neeru Chaudhry, 2024. "Unveiling the role of corporate social responsibility on the efficiency of capital investments and their speed of adjustment: Insights from India," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 41(4), pages 1963-1988, December.
    16. Yu, Lianchao & Sha, Haobin & Liu, Qiang & Yan, Guowan, 2024. "Environmental judicial independence and corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    17. Xiaobing LAI & Lei QUAN & Chong GUO & Xing GAO, 2023. "Exploring the Digital Era: Has Digital Technology Innovation Reshaped Investment Efficiency in Chinese Enterprises?," Economic Growth Centre Working Paper Series 2302, Nanyang Technological University, School of Social Sciences, Economic Growth Centre.
    18. Yong Ma & Yiqing Jiang, 2024. "Digital financial inclusion and corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises in China," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 929-957, August.
    19. Yu, Lianchao & Sha, Haobin & Ji, Peinan, 2025. "Government-led voluntary environmental regulation and corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from the green factory certification in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    20. Ma, Xiaofang & Chen, Jun & Dong, Wang & Su, Qiaoling, 2024. "Chief accountants weigh in: How professional leadership of SOEs influence investment efficiency," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PB).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:77:y:2025:i:c:s154461232500282x. 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.