IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i23p15993-d989132.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How ESG Contribute to the High-Quality Development of State-Owned Enterprise in China: A Multi-Stage fsQCA Method

Author

Listed:
  • Guangfan Sun

    (School of Business, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Changwei Guo

    (School of Business, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)

  • Junchen Ye

    (School of Business, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Chaoran Ji

    (School of Finance, Jilin University of Finance and Economics, Changchun 130117, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Nuo Xu

    (School of Literature and Law, Zhengzhou Technology and Business University, Zhengzhou 451400, China)

  • Hanqi Li

    (Department of Geography & Anthropology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
    School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore what configurations of dimensions corresponding to environmental, social responsibility, governance (ESG) and firm contextual factors can lead to the high-quality development of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). A configuration analysis framework with six conditions including environmental, social responsibility, and governance (ESG), innovation intensity, capital structure, and firm size was constructed. Moreover, the multi-stage qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) approach was conducted on a sample of 692 annual observations of SOEs from 2017 to 2019. Findings suggested that three equifinal patterns can produce the high-quality development of SOEs, which are resource and capability prominent pattern, sustainability driven pattern, responsibility and growth balanced pattern, respectively. Each pattern is a conjunctural combination of different ESG and firm conditions. The number of resource and capability prominent pattern decreased in the third year, while the proportion of sustainability driven pattern increased, in which the environmental dimension played a core role rather than the social dimension. Different ESG dimensions and firm conditions have both complementary and substitutive relationships, but firm size is a common condition in all configurations. This study provided a holistic empirical explanation of how ESG leads to sustainability issues in SOEs.

Suggested Citation

  • Guangfan Sun & Changwei Guo & Junchen Ye & Chaoran Ji & Nuo Xu & Hanqi Li, 2022. "How ESG Contribute to the High-Quality Development of State-Owned Enterprise in China: A Multi-Stage fsQCA Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:23:p:15993-:d:989132
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/23/15993/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/23/15993/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Guangfan Sun & Xiangyu Cao & Junyi Chen & Hanqi Li, 2022. "Food Culture and Sustainable Development: Evidence from Firm-Level Sustainable Total Factor Productivity in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-25, July.
    2. Eduardo Duque-Grisales & Javier Aguilera-Caracuel, 2021. "Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Scores and Financial Performance of Multilatinas: Moderating Effects of Geographic International Diversification and Financial Slack," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(2), pages 315-334, January.
    3. Kristel Buysse & Alain Verbeke, 2003. "Proactive environmental strategies: a stakeholder management perspective," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(5), pages 453-470, May.
    4. Gabriel Paradis & Eduardo Schiehll, 2021. "ESG Outcasts: Study of the ESG Performance of Sin Stocks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-18, August.
    5. Nicolas Madison & Eduardo Schiehll, 2021. "The Effect of Financial Materiality on ESG Performance Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-21, March.
    6. Domicián Máté & Adam Novotny & Daniel Francois Meyer, 2021. "The Impact of Sustainability Goals on Productivity Growth: The Moderating Role of Global Warming," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-13, October.
    7. An, Heng & Chen, Yanyan & Luo, Danglun & Zhang, Ting, 2016. "Political uncertainty and corporate investment: Evidence from China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 174-189.
    8. Haidong Yu & Juanjuan Zhao, 2020. "The Impact of Environmental Conditions on Urban Eco-Sustainable Total Factor Productivity: A Case Study of 21 Cities in Guangdong Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-21, February.
    9. Jianjun Miao & Pengfei Wang, 2012. "Bubbles and Total Factor Productivity," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 102(3), pages 82-87, May.
    10. Wenxi Yan & Eduardo Schiehll & Maureen I. Muller-Kahle, 2019. "Human and relational capital behind the structural power of CEOs in Chinese listed firms," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 36(3), pages 715-743, September.
    11. Gillan, Stuart L. & Koch, Andrew & Starks, Laura T., 2021. "Firms and social responsibility: A review of ESG and CSR research in corporate finance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    12. Di Giuli, Alberta & Kostovetsky, Leonard, 2014. "Are red or blue companies more likely to go green? Politics and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(1), pages 158-180.
    13. James Levinsohn & Amil Petrin, 2003. "Estimating Production Functions Using Inputs to Control for Unobservables," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 70(2), pages 317-341.
    14. Krishna Udayasankar, 2008. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Size," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 83(2), pages 167-175, December.
    15. Stellner, Christoph & Klein, Christian & Zwergel, Bernhard, 2015. "Corporate social responsibility and Eurozone corporate bonds: The moderating role of country sustainability," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 538-549.
    16. Teece, David J., 2016. "Dynamic capabilities and entrepreneurial management in large organizations: Toward a theory of the (entrepreneurial) firm," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 202-216.
    17. Thomas Greckhamer, 2016. "CEO compensation in relation to worker compensation across countries: The configurational impact of country-level institutions," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(4), pages 793-815, April.
    18. Amal Aouadi & Sylvain Marsat, 2018. "Do ESG Controversies Matter for Firm Value? Evidence from International Data," Post-Print halshs-02007374, HAL.
    19. Yujie Lu & Fangxin Yi & Shaocong Yu & Yangtian Feng & Yujuan Wang, 2022. "Pathways to Sustainable Deployment of Solar Photovoltaic Policies in 20 Leading Countries Using a Qualitative Comparative Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, May.
    20. Amal Aouadi & Sylvain Marsat, 2018. "Do ESG Controversies Matter for Firm Value? Evidence from International Data," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(4), pages 1027-1047, September.
    21. He, Jie (Jack) & Tian, Xuan, 2013. "The dark side of analyst coverage: The case of innovation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(3), pages 856-878.
    22. Madhu Khanna & William Rose Q. Anton, 2002. "Corporate Environmental Management: Regulatory and Market-Based Incentives," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 78(4), pages 539-558.
    23. David J. Teece & Gary Pisano & Amy Shuen, 1997. "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 509-533, August.
    24. Eunjoung Lee & Gunwoo Kim, 2022. "Analysis of Domestic and International Green Infrastructure Research Trends from the ESG Perspective in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-18, June.
    25. Sang Kim & Zhichuan (Frank) Li, 2021. "Understanding the Impact of ESG Practices in Corporate Finance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-15, March.
    26. McGuinness, Paul B. & Vieito, João Paulo & Wang, Mingzhu, 2017. "The role of board gender and foreign ownership in the CSR performance of Chinese listed firms," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 75-99.
    27. Canan C. Mutlu & Marc van Essen & Mike W. Peng & Sabrina F. Saleh & Patricio Duran, 2018. "Corporate Governance in China : A Meta-Analysis," Post-Print hal-02312124, HAL.
    28. Anne Servantie Jacqueminet & Rodolphe Durand, 2020. "Ups and Downs: The Role of Legitimacy Judgment Cues in Practice Implementation," Working Papers hal-02896545, HAL.
    29. Aguilera, Ruth & Duran, Patricio & Heugens, P.P.M.A.R. & Sauerwald, Steve & Turturea, Roxana & VanEssen, Marc, 2021. "State ownership, political ideology, and firm performance around the world," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(1).
    30. Seema Arora & Timothy N. Cason, 1996. "Why Do Firms Volunteer to Exceed Environmental Regulations? Understanding Participation in EPA's 33/50 Program," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 72(4), pages 413-432.
    31. Chaokai Xue & Xinghua Dang & Beibei Shi & Jing Gu, 2019. "Information Sharing and Investment Performance in the Venture Capital Network Community: An Empirical Study of Environmental-Social-Governance Start-Ups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-18, March.
    32. Canan C. Mutlu & Marc Van Essen & Mike W. Peng & Sabrina F. Saleh & Patricio Duran, 2018. "Corporate Governance in China: A Meta‐Analysis," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(6), pages 943-979, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Qi Song & Xiaohong Chen & Hao Gu, 2023. "How Technological, Organizational, and Environmental Factors Drive Enterprise Digital Innovation: Analysis Based on the Dynamic FsQCA Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-22, August.

    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. Raymond Kwong & Man Lung Jonathan Kwok & Helen S. M. Wong, 2023. "Green FinTech Innovation as a Future Research Direction: A Bibliometric Analysis on Green Finance and FinTech," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-27, October.
    2. Ge Ge & Xiang Xiao & Zhenzhu Li & Qinghui Dai, 2022. "Does ESG Performance Promote High-Quality Development of Enterprises in China? The Mediating Role of Innovation Input," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-24, March.
    3. Chen, Lifeng & Khurram, Muhammad Usman & Gao, Yuying & Abedin, Mohammad Zoynul & Lucey, Brian, 2023. "ESG disclosure and technological innovation capabilities of the Chinese listed companies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    4. Yaghoub Abdi & Xiaoni Li & Xavier Càmara-Turull, 2022. "Exploring the impact of sustainability (ESG) disclosure on firm value and financial performance (FP) in airline industry: the moderating role of size and age," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 5052-5079, April.
    5. Guangfan Sun & Changwei Guo & Bin Li & Honglei Li, 2023. "Cultural inclusivity and corporate social responsibility in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Guangfan Sun & Xin Lin & Junyi Chen & Nuo Xu & Ping Xiong & Hanqi Li, 2023. "Cultural inclusion and corporate sustainability: evidence from food culture and corporate total factor productivity in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, December.
    7. Wong, Jin Boon & Zhang, Qin, 2022. "Stock market reactions to adverse ESG disclosure via media channels," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(1).
    8. To, Thomas Y. & Navone, Marco & Wu, Eliza, 2018. "Analyst coverage and the quality of corporate investment decisions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 164-181.
    9. Tan, Yafei & Zhu, Zhaohui, 2022. "The effect of ESG rating events on corporate green innovation in China: The mediating role of financial constraints and managers' environmental awareness," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    10. Dodd, Olga & Frijns, Bart & Garel, Alexandre, 2022. "Cultural diversity among directors and corporate social responsibility," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    11. Valentina Marano & Steve Sauerwald & Marc Essen, 2022. "The influence of culture on the relationship between women directors and corporate social performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(7), pages 1315-1342, September.
    12. James J. Cordeiro & Giorgia Profumo & Ilaria Tutore, 2021. "Family ownership and stockholder reactions to environmental performance disclosure: A test of secondary agency relationships," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 2091-2107, May.
    13. Jeremy Galbreath & Chia‐Yang Chang & Daniel Tisch, 2023. "The impact of a proactive environmental strategy on environmentally sustainable practices in service firms: The moderating effect of information use value," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 5420-5434, December.
    14. Shakil, Mohammad Hassan, 2021. "Environmental, social and governance performance and financial risk: Moderating role of ESG controversies and board gender diversity," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    15. Li Peng & Yuan Li & Marc Essen & Mike W. Peng, 2020. "Institutions, resources, and strategic orientations: A meta-analysis," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 499-529, June.
    16. Gillan, Stuart L. & Koch, Andrew & Starks, Laura T., 2021. "Firms and social responsibility: A review of ESG and CSR research in corporate finance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    17. Andrieș, Alin Marius & Sprincean, Nicu, 2023. "ESG performance and banks’ funding costs," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    18. Qinglan Wu & Guifu Chen & Jing Han & Liyan Wu, 2022. "Does Corporate ESG Performance Improve Export Intensity? Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.
    19. Sabbaghi, Omid, 2022. "The impact of news on the volatility of ESG firms," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    20. Marion Allet & Marek Hudon, 2015. "Green Microfinance: Characteristics of Microfinance Institutions Involved in Environmental Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(3), pages 395-414, February.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:23:p:15993-:d:989132. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.