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The impact of the carbon emissions trading scheme on corporate strategic deviance in China

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  • Zhang, Caiping
  • Liu, Falong
  • Wu, Dawei
  • Tan, Deming
  • Niu, Linping

Abstract

In recent years, much research has been conducted on the carbon emissions trading scheme policy. However, more studies need to focus on the impact of the carbon emissions trading scheme on corporate strategy. In order to address this research gap, drawing on panel data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2008 to 2020, a quasi-natural experiment was conducted on the impact of the carbon emissions trading scheme on corporate strategic deviance, using a staggered DID model. The results showed that the carbon emissions trading scheme is positively related to corporate strategic deviance, and this relationship has a significant lag. The mechanism analysis demonstrated that the carbon emissions trading scheme can promote innovation quality and environmental performance, thereby indirectly promoting improvement in corporate strategic deviance. The heterogeneity analysis revealed that the carbon emissions trading scheme has a more significant positive relationship with corporate strategic deviance in non-state-owned enterprises, highly polluting industries, and provinces with weak environmental regulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Caiping & Liu, Falong & Wu, Dawei & Tan, Deming & Niu, Linping, 2025. "The impact of the carbon emissions trading scheme on corporate strategic deviance in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:212:y:2025:i:c:s0040162524007509
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123952
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