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The Effect of Economic Policy Uncertainty on Green Technology Innovation: Evidence from China’s Enterprises

Author

Listed:
  • Xuan Yang

    (Nanyang Technopreneurship Center, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637553, Singapore)

  • Shihao Mao

    (Nanyang Technopreneurship Center, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637553, Singapore)

  • Luxuan Sun

    (China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201306, China)

  • Chao Feng

    (School of Economics and Business Administration, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China)

  • Yinshuang Xia

    (School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

Abstract

In some cases, enterprise fears uncertainty more than the policy itself, and this fear can impede innovation. However, this study finds that uncertainty is the source of enterprise’s innovation. We took Chinese A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2018 as the research sample and studied the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on green technology innovation (GTI). Based on China’s EPU index and green patent-application data of Chinese-listed enterprises, this study adopted a panel fixed regression model and found that EPU has a slightly promoting effect on GTI of Chinese-listed enterprises. This effect is also affected by enterprise ownership and industry characteristics. Among them, EPU has a stronger promoting effect on GTI activities of state-owned enterprises and high-tech enterprises than common enterprises. In particular, if EPU increases, the GTI of high-polluting enterprises is not as great as the incentive effect of ordinary enterprises. The reasons may be that state-owned enterprises have more implicit capital guarantees, high-tech enterprises have higher innovation motivation, and high-polluting enterprises have stronger dependence on traditional production equipment. These results can provide a reference for the debate on “uncertainty.” The conclusions of this paper contain unique policy implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuan Yang & Shihao Mao & Luxuan Sun & Chao Feng & Yinshuang Xia, 2022. "The Effect of Economic Policy Uncertainty on Green Technology Innovation: Evidence from China’s Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:18:p:11522-:d:914590
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Huanan Sun & Lianmei Zhu & Anqi Wang & Shali Wang & Haijing Ma, 2022. "Analysis of Regional Social Capital, Enterprise Green Innovation and Green Total Factor Productivity—Based on Chinese A-Share Listed Companies from 2011 to 2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, December.
    2. Huafang Huang & Sharafat Ali & Yasir Ahmed Solangi, 2023. "Analysis of the Impact of Economic Policy Uncertainty on Environmental Sustainability in Developed and Developing Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-19, March.
    3. Xu Luo & Mengke Yu & Yongsheng Jin, 2023. "The Impact of Economic Policy Uncertainty on Enterprise Green Innovation: A Study on the Moderating Effect of Carbon Information Disclosure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.

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