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Social Trust and Green Technology Innovation: Evidence from Listed Firms in China

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  • Yaru Yang

    (School of Management, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China
    All authors contribute to the paper equally.)

  • Desheng Liu

    (School of Management, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China
    All authors contribute to the paper equally.)

  • Luxiu Zhang

    (Business School, University of Jinan, Jinan 250002, China
    All authors contribute to the paper equally.)

  • Yingkai Yin

    (School of Economics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
    All authors contribute to the paper equally.)

Abstract

Green Technology innovation intends to enable the advancement of technologies toward the goals of human health, natural resource sustainability and social equity. Green technology innovation has become an important driving force for the sustainable growth of the global economy. In this study, building upon the theories on informal institutions, we empirically investigate the effects of social trust on green technology innovation. Using a sample of companies listed in A-share markets in China from 2012 to 2017, we find that social trust has a significant positive impact on the performance of green technology innovation. We employ an instrumental variable approach through two-stage-least square estimator, and report consistent results. Further heterogeneity analysis finds that with higher levels of policy uncertainty and lower levels of intellectual property rights protection, the effect of social trust on firms’ green technology innovation is more significant. Further, the effect of social trust on firms’ green technology of non-SOEs innovation is larger than SOEs. In addition, the positive effect of social trust on green technology innovation in firms is an effective supplement for formal systems to promote green technology innovation in said firms, which provides a new theoretical reference for promoting firms’ green technology innovation and achieving high-quality development.

Suggested Citation

  • Yaru Yang & Desheng Liu & Luxiu Zhang & Yingkai Yin, 2021. "Social Trust and Green Technology Innovation: Evidence from Listed Firms in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:4828-:d:543291
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Liu, Menghe & Li, Yuxiao, 2022. "Environmental regulation and green innovation: Evidence from China's carbon emissions trading policy," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    4. Wan, Yinglin & Gao, Yuchen & Hu, Yimei, 2022. "Blockchain application and collaborative innovation in the manufacturing industry: Based on the perspective of social trust," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
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    7. Ding, Xiaoya (Sara) & Guo, Mengmeng & Kuai, Yicheng & Niu, Geng, 2023. "Social trust and firm innovation: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 474-493.
    8. Lyu, Xiaoliang & Ma, Jiameng & Zhang, Xiaochen, 2023. "Social trust and corporate innovation: An informal institution perspective," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
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    11. Xiaonan Fan & Sainan Ren & Yang Liu, 2023. "The Driving Factors of Green Technology Innovation Efficiency—A Study Based on the Dynamic QCA Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-25, June.

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