IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/pacfin/v88y2024ics0927538x24003275.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Can improving the business environment narrow the within-firm pay gap? Evidence from data on 233 Chinese cities

Author

Listed:
  • Wan, Qin
  • Pan, Hongyu
  • Huang, Jinbo

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of the business environment (BE) on the within-firm pay gap (WFPG) by using data on listed firms from 233 cities in China. The main finding is that a better BE reduces the WFPG between management and regular employees. After a series of endogeneity treatments and robustness tests, this conclusion remains unchanged. The results of mechanism analysis suggest that intensifying market competition and the alleviating agency problems are two important channels for this effect. Heterogeneity tests indicate a stronger effect for non-state owned enterprises, firms with worse governance, and firms in noncompetitive industries. Additional analysis indicates that human resources, the innovation environment, and financial services are the main factors through which the BE affects the WFPG. This paper provides empirical insights for practical application.

Suggested Citation

  • Wan, Qin & Pan, Hongyu & Huang, Jinbo, 2024. "Can improving the business environment narrow the within-firm pay gap? Evidence from data on 233 Chinese cities," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:88:y:2024:i:c:s0927538x24003275
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2024.102575
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927538X24003275
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.pacfin.2024.102575?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. Frye, Melissa B. & Gatchev, Vladimir A. & Pham, Duong T., 2024. "Director self-dealing: Evidence from compensation peer groups," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    2. Xie, Qing & Yin, Hua, 2024. "Business environment and the choice of entry mode of OFDI: Evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    3. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/6n1ke9ea1o83aqc0oducs7vd1q is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Luo, Yonggen & Cui, Huijie & Zhong, Huiyi & Wei, Changhua, 2023. "Business environment and enterprise digital transformation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    5. Yin, Lei & Tao, Yunqing & Wang, Meng, 2022. "Trust and pay gap: Quasi-natural experimental evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    6. Guo Xu, 2018. "The Costs of Patronage: Evidence from the British Empire," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(11), pages 3170-3198, November.
    7. Xu, Mingli & Kong, Gaowen & Kong, Dongmin, 2017. "Does wage justice hamper creativity? Pay gap and firm innovation in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 186-202.
    8. Berthold Herrendorf & Arilton Teixeira, 2011. "Barriers To Entry And Development," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 52(2), pages 573-602, May.
    9. Simeon Djankov & Rafael La Porta & Florencio Lopez-de-Silanes & Andrei Shleifer, 2002. "The Regulation of Entry," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 117(1), pages 1-37.
    10. Rajesh K. Aggarwal & Andrew A. Samwick, 1999. "Executive Compensation, Strategic Competition, and Relative Performance Evaluation: Theory and Evidence," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 54(6), pages 1999-2043, December.
    11. Joshua D. Angrist & Jörn-Steffen Pischke, 2009. "Mostly Harmless Econometrics: An Empiricist's Companion," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 8769.
    12. repec:spo:wpecon:info:hdl:2441/6n1ke9ea1o83aqc0oducs7vd1q is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Paul Gompers & Joy Ishii & Andrew Metrick, 2003. "Corporate Governance and Equity Prices," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 118(1), pages 107-156.
    14. Daron Acemoglu & Simon Johnson & James A. Robinson, 2001. "The Colonial Origins of Comparative Development: An Empirical Investigation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(5), pages 1369-1401, December.
    15. repec:hal:wpspec:info:hdl:2441/6n1ke9ea1o83aqc0oducs7vd1q is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Firth, Michael & Leung, Tak Yan & Rui, Oliver M. & Na, Chaohong, 2015. "Relative pay and its effects on firm efficiency in a transitional economy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 59-77.
    17. Philippe Aghion & Nick Bloom & Richard Blundell & Rachel Griffith & Peter Howitt, 2005. "Competition and Innovation: an Inverted-U Relationship," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 120(2), pages 701-728.
    18. Combes, Pierre-Philippe & Démurger, Sylvie & Li, Shi, 2015. "Migration externalities in Chinese cities," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 152-167.
    19. Gaowen Kong & Jiating Huang & Shasha Liu, 2023. "Digital Transformation and Within-Firm Pay Gap: Evidence from China," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(6), pages 1748-1766, May.
    20. Kong, Gaowen & Huang, Jiating & Ma, Guangyuan, 2023. "Anti-corruption and within-firm pay gap: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    21. Vicente Cuñat & Maria Guadalupe, 2009. "Globalization and the Provision of Incentives inside the Firm: The Effect of Foreign Competition," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 27(2), pages 179-212, April.
    22. Claudine Gartenberg & Julie Wulf, 2020. "Competition and Pay Inequality Within and Between Firms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(12), pages 5925-5943, December.
    23. Dai, Yunhao & Kong, Dongmin & Xu, Jin, 2017. "Does fairness breed efficiency? Pay gap and firm productivity in China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 406-422.
    24. Kini, Omesh & Williams, Ryan, 2012. "Tournament incentives, firm risk, and corporate policies," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(2), pages 350-376.
    25. Azman-Saini, W.N.W. & Law, Siong Hook & Ahmad, Abd Halim, 2010. "FDI and economic growth: New evidence on the role of financial markets," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 107(2), pages 211-213, May.
    26. Joel Peress, 2010. "Product Market Competition, Insider Trading, and Stock Market Efficiency," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 65(1), pages 1-43, February.
    27. Yu, Linhui & Tang, Xuepeng & Huang, Xianhai, 2023. "Does the business environment promote entrepreneurship?——Evidence from the China Household Finance Survey," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    28. Luca Bonacini & Giovanni Gallo & Sergio Scicchitano, 2021. "Working from home and income inequality: risks of a ‘new normal’ with COVID-19," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 34(1), pages 303-360, January.
    29. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    30. Tao, Yu-Li & Chuang, Hwei-Lin & Lin, Eric S., 2016. "Compensation and performance in Major League Baseball: Evidence from salary dispersion and team performance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 151-159.
    31. Zhang, Honghui & Huang, Hedy Jiaying & Habib, Ahsan, 2018. "The Effect of Tournament Incentives on Financial Restatements: Evidence From China," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 53(2), pages 118-135.
    32. Kaplan, Steven N, 1994. "Top Executive Rewards and Firm Performance: A Comparison of Japan and the United States," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 102(3), pages 510-546, June.
    33. Chen, Zehao & Li, Yibo & Lin, Yuyang & Pan, Jingrui, 2023. "Business environment and corporate financing decisions: From the perspective of dynamic adjustment of capital structure," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PB).
    34. Nicholas Crafts, 2006. "Regulation and Productivity Performance," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 22(2), pages 186-202, Summer.
    35. James S. Ang & Rebel A. Cole & James Wuh Lin, 2000. "Agency Costs and Ownership Structure," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 55(1), pages 81-106, February.
    36. Li, Biao & Luo, Zhangwei & Wei, Yijia & Qiu, Yong & Wu, Siyi, 2023. "Intra-firm pay gap and labor demand," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PD).
    37. Prajogo, Daniel I., 2016. "The strategic fit between innovation strategies and business environment in delivering business performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 171(P2), pages 241-249.
    38. Jensen, Michael C & Murphy, Kevin J, 1990. "Performance Pay and Top-Management Incentives," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(2), pages 225-264, April.
    39. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/6n1ke9ea1o83aqc0oducs7vd1q is not listed on IDEAS
    40. Demirguc-Kunt, Asli & Love, Inessa & Maksimovic, Vojislav, 2006. "Business environment and the incorporation decision," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(11), pages 2967-2993, November.
    41. Kong, Dongmin & Lin, Zhiyang & Wang, Yanan & Xiang, Junyi, 2021. "Natural disasters and analysts' earnings forecasts," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    42. Dustin Chambers & Patrick A. McLaughlin & Laura Stanley, 2019. "Barriers to prosperity: the harmful impact of entry regulations on income inequality," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 180(1), pages 165-190, July.
    43. Coles, Jeffrey L. & Li, Zhichuan F., 2023. "An Empirical Assessment of Empirical Corporate Finance," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 58(4), pages 1391-1430, June.
    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. Kong, Gaowen & Huang, Jiating & Ma, Guangyuan, 2023. "Anti-corruption and within-firm pay gap: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    2. Sun, Sophia Li & Habib, Ahsan & Huang, Hedy Jiaying, 2019. "Tournament incentives and stock price crash risk: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 93-117.
    3. Sun, Sophia Li & Habib, Ahsan, 2020. "Determinants and consequences of tournament incentives: A survey of the literature in accounting and finance," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    4. Khurram, Muhammad Usman & Chen, Lifeng & Abedin, Mohammad Zoynul & Adu, Douglas A. & Lucey, Brian, 2024. "ESG disclosure and internal pay gap: Empirical evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 228-244.
    5. Li, Wentao & Wang, Xiaoke & Yu, Lisheng, 2024. "Executive pay restrictions, political promotion, and firm efficiency: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    6. Spagnolo, Giancarlo, 2005. "Managerial incentives and collusive behavior," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(6), pages 1501-1523, August.
    7. Bushman, Robert M. & Smith, Abbie J., 2001. "Financial accounting information and corporate governance," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1-3), pages 237-333, December.
    8. Guernsey, Scott & Sepe, Simone M. & Serfling, Matthew, 2022. "Blood in the water: The value of antitakeover provisions during market shocks," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(3), pages 1070-1096.
    9. ATM Adnan & Nisar Ahmed, 2019. "The Transformation Of The Corporate Governance Model: A Literature Review," Copernican Journal of Finance & Accounting, Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, vol. 8(3), pages 7-47.
    10. Mueller, Elisabeth & Spitz, Alexandra, 2001. "Managerial ownership and firm performance in German small and medium-sized enterprises," ZEW Discussion Papers 01-72, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    11. Clara Graziano & Laura Rondi, 2021. "Product Market Competition, Executive Compensation, and CEO Family Ties," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 58(3), pages 357-397, May.
    12. Colonnello, Stefano & Curatola, Giuliano & Hoang, Ngoc Giang, 2017. "Direct and indirect risk-taking incentives of inside debt," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 428-466.
    13. Nenova, Tatiana, 2006. "Takeover laws and financial development," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4029, The World Bank.
    14. Spagnolo, Giancarlo, 1998. "Debt as a (Credible) Collusive Device, or: "Everybody Happy but the Consumer"," SSE/EFI Working Paper Series in Economics and Finance 243, Stockholm School of Economics, revised 01 Aug 2004.
    15. Meital Graham Rozen, 2024. "Executive Compensation in Publicly Traded Companies in Israel," Bank of Israel Working Papers 2024.06, Bank of Israel.
    16. Clement Olalekan Olaniyi & Olufemi Bodunde Obembe & Emmanuel Oluwole Oni, 2017. "Analysis of the Nexus between CEO Pay and Performance of Non-Financial Listed Firms in Nigeria," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 29(3), pages 429-445, September.
    17. Lixin Colin Xu, 2011. "The Effects of Business Environments on Development: Surveying New Firm-level Evidence," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 26(2), pages 310-340, August.
    18. Xianjun Cai & Huifeng Pan & Chengcheng Gao & Chunyang Wang & Liping Lu, 2021. "Top executive tournament incentives and corporate innovation output," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(5), pages 5893-5924, December.
    19. Jiraporn, Pornsit & Kim, Jang-Chul & Kim, Young Sang & Kitsabunnarat, Pattanaporn, 2012. "Capital structure and corporate governance quality: Evidence from the Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS)," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 208-221.
    20. Anup Agrawal & Tareque Nasser, 2018. "Corporate Financial and Investment Policies in the Presence of a Blockholder on the Board," Quarterly Journal of Finance (QJF), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 8(03), pages 1-59, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Business environment; Within-firm pay gap; Market competition; Agency problem;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

    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:pacfin:v:88:y:2024:i:c:s0927538x24003275. 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/pacfin .

    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.