Residents’ environmental participation and corporate green management: The influence of mandatory and voluntary behaviors

Residents’ participation in mandatory (government-driven) and voluntary (self-initiated) environmental behaviors may have different impacts on corporate green management. This study examines Chinese A-share listed companies to explore how these distinct behaviors influence corporate green practices and to uncover the underlying mechanisms. The findings reveal that mandatory behaviors are particularly effective in reducing pollution and enhancing transparency, whereas voluntary behaviors are more influential in driving corporate innovation. The mechanism analysis reveals that the development of ENGOs primarily drives improvements in pollution control and transparency associated with mandatory behaviors by exerting regulatory pressure on companies, whereas media attention amplifies the effects of voluntary behaviors, particularly in promoting transparency. These findings highlight the distinct and complementary roles of residents’ mandatory and voluntary environmental behaviors in influencing corporate green management and offer valuable insights into the mechanisms driving these outcomes.