IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v79y2025ics1544612325004969.html

The effect of employee stock ownership plans on enhancing corporate innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Sun, Xiaohan
  • Lu, Yongyu
  • Tian, Shan

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) on corporate innovation performance in China using a sample of A-share listed companies that implemented ESOPs from 2015 to 2022. The findings indicate that ESOPs significantly enhance corporate innovation performance. This positive effect is due to reduced agency costs and narrowed pay gaps. The study proposes and tests three hypotheses to explore the mechanisms underlying the relationship between ESOPs and innovation performance. The empirical results confirm that ESOPs foster shared ownership, align interests with corporate goals, and promote collaboration and innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Sun, Xiaohan & Lu, Yongyu & Tian, Shan, 2025. "The effect of employee stock ownership plans on enhancing corporate innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:79:y:2025:i:c:s1544612325004969
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2025.107233
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612325004969
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2025.107233?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. Zhi Yu & Yali Cao & Baoyin Qiu, 2025. "Can emission right mortgage loan promote corporate innovation?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(4), pages 441-447, January.
    2. Kaya, Bahar & Abubakar, A. Mohammed & Behravesh, Elaheh & Yildiz, Harun & Mert, Ibrahim Sani, 2020. "Antecedents of innovative performance: Findings from PLS-SEM and fuzzy sets (fsQCA)," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 278-289.
    3. Yu, Anyu & Shi, Yu & You, Jianxin & Zhu, Joe, 2021. "Innovation performance evaluation for high-tech companies using a dynamic network data envelopment analysis approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 292(1), pages 199-212.
    4. Ovuakporie, Oghogho Destina & Pillai, Kishore Gopalakrishna & Wang, Chengang & Wei, Yingqi, 2021. "Differential moderating effects of strategic and operational reconfiguration on the relationship between open innovation practices and innovation performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(1).
    5. Park, Gunno & Shin, Seungryul Ryan & Choy, Minkyung, 2020. "Early mover (dis)advantages and knowledge spillover effects on blockchain startups’ funding and innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 64-75.
    6. Robertson, Jeandri & Caruana, Albert & Ferreira, Caitlin, 2023. "Innovation performance: The effect of knowledge-based dynamic capabilities in cross-country innovation ecosystems," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2).
    7. Liu, Yang & Luan, Lin & Wu, Weilong & Zhang, Zhiqiang & Hsu, Yen, 2021. "Can digital financial inclusion promote China's economic growth?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    8. Gaglio, Cyrielle & Kraemer-Mbula, Erika & Lorenz, Edward, 2022. "The effects of digital transformation on innovation and productivity: Firm-level evidence of South African manufacturing micro and small enterprises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    9. Elia, Stefano & Kafouros, Mario & Buckley, Peter J., 2020. "The role of internationalization in enhancing the innovation performance of Chinese EMNEs: A geographic relational approach," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(4).
    10. Zhang, Yin & Peng, Hongxing & Liu, Tingli & Xie, Kehuang, 2024. "Corporate innovation and analysts’ estimates of the cost of equity: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PA), pages 83-101.
    11. Chen, Jun & King, Tao-Hsien Dolly & Wen, Min-Ming, 2020. "Non-executive ownership and private loan pricing," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    12. Usai, A. & Fiano, F. & Messeni Petruzzelli, A. & Paoloni, P. & Farina Briamonte, M. & Orlando, B., 2021. "Unveiling the impact of the adoption of digital technologies on firms’ innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 327-336.
    13. Murinde, Victor & Rizopoulos, Efthymios & Zachariadis, Markos, 2022. "The impact of the FinTech revolution on the future of banking: Opportunities and risks," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    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. Xu, Rui & Wu, Lei, 2025. "Digital tax communication and the effectiveness of tax incentives: Evidence from China’s high-tech sector," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

    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. Yang, Yang & Xiao, Zheng, 2024. "Examining the interaction effect of digitalization and highly educated employees on ambidextrous innovation in Chinese publicly listed SMEs: A knowledge-based view," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    2. Fu, Chao & Luo, Dianying & Zhang, Jiaoshu & Li, Wenxia, 2025. "Tax incentives, marketization level, and corporate digital transformation," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    3. Wu, Saijun & Li, Changzheng & Huang, Fei & Yu, Qing, 2025. "Exploration of the relationship between equity financing dependence, financing constraints, and corporate innovation performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    4. Zhang, Yamin & Ding, Zihan & Liu, Zhaoxi, 2025. "Impacts of human resource attention and financial agglomeration on regional innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    5. Li, Fei & Zhang, Nana, 2025. "Digital transformation, innovation investment and quality," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    6. Wang, Weilong & Xiao, Deheng & Wang, Jianlong & Wu, Haitao, 2024. "The cost of pollution in the digital era: Impediments of air pollution on enterprise digital transformation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    7. Zhao, Yang & Goodell, John W. & Dong, Qingli & Wang, Yong & Abedin, Mohammad Zoynul, 2022. "Overcoming spatial stratification of fintech inclusion: Inferences from across Chinese provinces to guide policy makers," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    8. Xu, Yong & Ji, Junzhe & Qiao, Yue & Huang, Jilei, 2025. "How and when does digital transformation promote technological innovation performance? A study of Chinese high-tech firms," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    9. Li, Yuantian & Xu, Haoyu & Li, Huiru & Xu, Yingming, 2025. "Digital economy, environmental regulations, and green economic development," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    10. Yang, Zongzhi & Li, Yali & Wu, Chanti, 2025. "Population aging, fintech, and agricultural economic resilience," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    11. Zhang, Xiaoping & Zheng, Peng & Fu, Yuhan, 2025. "The new Securities Law, information disclosure quality and corporate innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    12. Wen, Huwei & Zhong, Qiming & Lee, Chien-Chiang, 2022. "Digitalization, competition strategy and corporate innovation: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing listed companies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    13. Chen Cheng & Jinghao Mu & Guanchun Liu, 2026. "Do off‐Site R&D Institutions Matter for Corporate Exploratory Innovation?," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(2), pages 1880-1898, April.
    14. Guo, Jing & Yu, Jiaqi & Tian, Ziqing, 2025. "Financial technology, population aging, and corporate innovation," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    15. Yang, Ranran & Tu, Yongqian & Shen, Yunqiao, 2025. "Can the degree of party membership among management enhance corporate innovation performance? The moderating role of technology finance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    16. Hasan, Morshadul & Hoque, Ariful & Abedin, Mohammad Zoynul & Gasbarro, Dominic, 2024. "FinTech and sustainable development: A systematic thematic analysis using human- and machine-generated processing," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PC).
    17. Li, Yunxian & Li, Fen, 2025. "Digital economy, the income gap, and regional crime rates in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    18. Zhao, Guobin & Yuan, Yanzhe & Zhang, Yaning, 2025. "Exploring the mechanism and path of financial Literacy's impact on consumption of middle-aged and elderly rural residents: Micro-evidence from CHFS data," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    19. Kong, Yan & Li, Yang & Wan, Bonan, 2025. "Big data development, accounting information quality, and corporate innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    20. Radicic, Dragana & Petković, Saša, 2023. "Impact of digitalization on technological innovations in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).

    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:79:y:2025:i:c:s1544612325004969. 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.