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Does Entrepreneur Moral Reflectiveness Matter? Pursing Low-Carbon Emission Behavior among SMEs through the Relationship between Environmental Factors, Entrepreneur Personal Concept, and Outcome Expectations

Author

Listed:
  • Li Cai

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

  • Agyemang Kwasi Sampene

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

  • Adnan Khan

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

  • Fredrick Oteng-Agyeman

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

  • Wenjuan Tu

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

  • Brenya Robert

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

Abstract

The intensity and severe impact of carbon emissions on the environment has been witnessed globally. This study aims to unravel how environmental factors, personal factors, and entrepreneur outcome expectations affect entrepreneur low-carbon emission behavior (LCB) through the lens of social cognitive theory (SCT). To achieve the aims of this study, we gathered data from 1015 entrepreneurs and small, medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Jiangsu province of China to analyze the predictors of entrepreneur low-carbon behavior. The proposed relationships were tested using the partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. The findings from the study indicate that environmental factors (i.e., climate change (CC), public media (PM), and corporate social responsibility (CSR) have a significant and positive relationship with entrepreneur LCB. Moreover, entrepreneur green production self-efficacy (GPS) is positively associated with entrepreneur LCB. The findings further revealed that entrepreneur personal concepts such as entrepreneur self-monitoring (SM), entrepreneur self-esteem (SE), and entrepreneur self-Preference (SP) significantly and completely affect entrepreneur GPS. Likewise, entrepreneur moral reflectiveness (EMR) substantially moderates the relationship between entrepreneur green production outcome expectation and LCB. This study concludes with recommendations for researchers interested in enhancing knowledge in this field. In summation, this study shows that a behavioral science viewpoint is critical for improving knowledge of low-carbon environment, CC drivers, mitigation strategies, and sustainable transition to our complex environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Li Cai & Agyemang Kwasi Sampene & Adnan Khan & Fredrick Oteng-Agyeman & Wenjuan Tu & Brenya Robert, 2022. "Does Entrepreneur Moral Reflectiveness Matter? Pursing Low-Carbon Emission Behavior among SMEs through the Relationship between Environmental Factors, Entrepreneur Personal Concept, and Outcome Expect," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-22, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:2:p:808-:d:722634
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carolina Grottera & Emilio Lèbre La Rovere & William Wills & Amaro Olímpio Pereira Jr, 2020. "The role of lifestyle changes in low-emissions development strategies: an economy-wide assessment for Brazil," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(2), pages 217-233, February.
    2. Robert Gifford & Christine Kormos & Amanda McIntyre, 2011. "Behavioral dimensions of climate change: drivers, responses, barriers, and interventions," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 2(6), pages 801-827, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wenjuan Tu & Rui Shi, 2022. "Influence of Environmental Regulation on the International Competitiveness of the High-Tech Industry: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.

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